point south-South-west it riseth in three Mounts or round Hillockes bringing it more Westerly they shoot themselues all into one and bringing it Easterly it riseth in two Hillockes This we called Point Tremountaine Some twelue or fourteene leagues from this point to the Eastwards faire by the shoare lyeth a low flat Iland of some two leagues long we named it Faire Iland for it was all ouer as greene and smooth as any Meddow in the Sping of the yeare Some three or foure leagues Easterly from this Iland is a goodly opening as of a great Riuer or an arme of the Sea with a goodly low Countrey adjacent And eight or tenne leagues from this opening some three leagues from the shoare lyeth a bigge Rocke which at the first we had thought to be a ship vnder all her sayles but after as we came neere it discouered it selfe to bee a Rocke which we called Conduit-head for that howsoeuer a man commeth with it it is like to the Conduit-heads about the Citie of London All this Coast so farre as we discouered lyeth next of any thing East and by North and West and by South The Land for that it was discouered in the Reigne of Qâ—eene Elizabeth my Souereigne Lady and Mistris and a Mayden Queene and at my cost and aduenture in a perpetuall memory of her chastitie and remembrance of my endeuours I gaue it the name of Hawkins Maiden-land Before a man fall with this Land some twenâ—y or thirty leagues he shall meet with beds of Oreweed driuing to and fro in that Sea with white flowres growing vpon them and sometimes farther off which is a good shew and signe the Land is neere whereof the Westermost part lyeth some threescore leagues from the neerest Land of America With our faire and large wind wee shaped our course for the Straits and the tenth of February wee had sight of Land and it was the head-land of the Straits to the Northwards which agreed with our height wherein wee found our selues to bee which was in 52. degrees and 40. minutes Within a few houres we had the mouth of the Straits open which lieth in 52. degrees and 50. minutes It riseth like the North foreland in Kent and is much like the Land of Margates It is not good to borrow neere the shoare but to giue it a faire birth within a few houres we entred the mouth of the Straits which is some sixe leagues broad and lieth in 52. degrees and 50. minutes doubling the Point on the starbood which is also flat of a good birth we opened a faire Bay in which we might descry the Hull of a ship beaten vpon the Beach It was of the Spanish Fleet that went to inhabit there in Anno 1582. vnder the charge of Pedro Sarmiento who at his returne was taken Prisoner and brought into England In this Bay the Spaniards made their principall habitation and called it the Citie of Saint Philip and left it peopled But the cold barrennesse of the Countrey and the malice of the Indians with whom they badly agreed made speedy end of them as also of those whom they left in the middle of the Straits three leagues from Cape Forward to the Eastwards in another habitation We continued our course alongst this Reaâ—h for all the Straits is as a Riuer altering his course sometimes vpon one point sometimes vpon another which is some eight leagues long and lieth West North-west From this we entred into a goodly Bay which runneth vp into the Land Northerly many leagues and at first entrance a man may see no other thing but as it were a maine Sea From the end of this first Reach you must direct your course West south-South-west and some fourteene or fifteene leagues lyeth one of the narrowest places of all the Straits This leadeth vnto another Reach that lyeth West and by North some six leagues Here in the middle of the Reach the wind tooke vs by the North-west and so we were forced to anchor some two or three dayes In which time we went ashoare with our Boats and found neere the middle of this Reach on the starboord side a reasonable good place to ground and trimme a small ship where it higheth some nine or ten foot water Here we saw certaine Hogs but they were so farre from vs that we could not discerne whether they were of those of the Countrey or brought by the Spaniards these were all the beasts which we saw in all the time we were in the Straits In two tides we turned through this reach and so recouered the Ilands of Pengwins they lye from this reach foure leagues South-west and by West Till you come to this place care is to be taken of not comming too neere to any point of the land for being for the most part sandy they haue sholding off them and are somewhat dangerous These Ilands haue beene set forth by some to be three we could discouer but two And they are no more except that part of the Mayne which lyeth ouer against them be an Iland which carrieth little likelihood and I cannot determine it A man may saile betwixt the two Ilands or betwixt them and the Land on the Larboord side from which Land to the bigger Iland is as it were a bridge or ledge on which is foure or fiue fathom water and to him that commeth neere it not knowing thereof may justly cause feare for it sheweth to be shold water with his ripling like vnto a Race Betwixt the former Reach and these Ilands runneth vp a goodly Bay into the Countrey to the North-wards It causeth a great Indraughty and aboue these Ilands runneth a great tide from the mouth of the Straits to these Ilands the Land on the Larboord-side is low Land and sandy for the most part and without doubt Ilands for it hath many openings into the Sea and forcible Indraughts by them and that on the Starboord side is all high Mountaynous Land from end to end but no wood on either side Before we passed these Ilands vnder the Lee of the bigger Iland we anchored the winde beeing at North-east with intent to refresh our selues with the Fowles of these Ilands they are of diuers sorts and in great plentie as Pengwins wild Ducks Guls and Gannets of the principall we purposed to make prouision and those were the Pengwins The Pengwin is in all proportion like a Goose and hath no feathers but a certaine downe vpon all parts of his bodie and therefore canot flee but auayleth himselfe in all occasions with his feet running as fast as most men He liueth in the Sea and on the Land feedeth on fish in the Sea and as a Goose on the shore vpon grasse They harbour themselues vnder the ground in Burrowes as the Conies and in them hatch their young All parts of the Iland where they haunted were vndermined saue onely one Valley which it seemeth they reserued for their food for it
haue done their vttermost yet can they not bring that People wholly in subiection And although the Spaniards haue in this Prouince eleuen Townes and two Bishoprikes yet haue they little enough to maintayne themselues by reason of the Warres for they spend all the Gold that the Land yeeldeth in the maintenance of their Souldiers which would not bee so if they had peace for then they might worke in all their Mines Thus hauing spoken somwhat of the situation of Chili and of the troublesome conquest thereof I will returne to my former discourse where I left Baldiuia therefore being of 150. houses hath twice beene burnt and spoyled by the Indians so that now it is waxen poore but before the Indians sacked it it was very rich and it standeth vp a Riuer foure leagues from the Sea Passing from hence you come to the plaine Countrie of Arauco being situate ouer against the Iland La Mocha on which Iland the Indians that inhabite belong to the maine Land Hauing passed this Plaine of Arauco the next Towne of the Spaniards that you come vnto is La Concepcion which hath beene the greatest and the richest Towne in all Chili but by reason that the Indians haue burned the same foure times it is now growne very poore and hath small store of people it containeth about some two hundred houses And because it adioyneth vpon the Plaine of Arauco where these valiant Indians bee therefore this Towne is enuironed about with a strong wall and hath a Fort built hard by it and here are fiue hundred Souldiers continually in Garrison Betweene this place and Ualparizo the Indians call the Coast by the name of Mapocha Sant Iago it selfe standing fiue and twentie leagues vp into the Countrie is the principall Towne of all Chili and the seat of the Gouernour it consisteth of about eight hundred houses The Port of Valparizo whither the goods come from Lima by shipping hath about twentie houses standing by it The next Towne neere the Sea side beyond this is Coquimbo which standeth two leagues vp into the Land and containeth about two hundred houses Next vnto Coquimbo standeth a Port-towne called Copiapo inhabited altogether by Indians which serue the Spaniards and here a Gentleman which is Gouernour of the Towne hath an Ingenio for Sugar at this place endeth the whole Prouince of Chili Here also the Mountaines ioyning hard vpon the Sea are the cause why all the Land betweene Capiapo and Peru contayning one hundred and sixtie leagues lieth desolate The first Towne on the Coast of Peru called Atacama is inhabited by Indians which are slaues vnto the Spaniards But before I passe any further I will here also declare vnto you the first Discouerie of Peru with other matters there to belonging and then will I returne to the Sea-coast againe and to the end you may vnderstand me the better I will beginne with Panama After that the Spaniards had inhabited the North side of this mayne Land passing ouer the Mountains they discouered the South Sea where because they found Indian people with Gold and Pearles they built a Towne eighteene leagues to the West of Nombre de Dios hard vpon the Sea side and called it Panama From hence they discouered along the Coast of Nueua Espanna and for that Nueua Espanna was at the same time inhabited by Spaniards there beganne a trade from thence to Panama but from Panama by Sea to the Coast of Peru they could not trade in a long time because of the Southerly windes blowing on this Coast almost all the yeere long which are a hinderance to ships sayling that way and by Land the passage was impossible in regard of Mountaines and Riuers Yea it was fifteene yeeres before they passed the Iland of Pearles which is but twentie leagues from Panama There were at this time in Panama two men the one called Francisco Pizarro borne in the Citie of Truxillo in Spaine a valiant man but withall poore the other called Diego de Almagro was very rich These men got a companie vnto them and prouided two Carauels to discouer the Coast of Peru and hauing obtayned licence of the Gouernour of that place Francisco Pizarro set forth with the two foresaid Carauels and an hundred men and Diego de Almagro stayed in Panama to send him Victuals and other necessaries Now Francisco Pizarro sayling along the Coast met with contrary windes and raine which put him to great trouble and hee began also after a while to lacke victuals for hee was sayling of that in eight moneths which they now passe in fifteene dayes and not knowing the right course hee ranne into euery Riuer and Bay that hee saw along the Coast which was the chiefe cause that he stayed so long on his Voyage also thirtie of his companie died by reason of the vnhealthfulnesse of the coast At last he came to an Iland called by him Isla del Gallo being situate from the maine Land sixe leagues From hence he sent one of his ships to Panama for a new supplie of victuals and of men which ship being departed fortie of his men that remayned behinde made a mutinie and passed vp into the Countrie meaning to returne by Land to Panama but in the way they all perished for they were neuer heard of vntill this day So that Francisco Pizarro was left vpon the said Iland onely with thirteene men who although hee had his ship there in which he might haue returned yet would hee rather die then goe backe and his thirteene men also were of his opinion notwithstanding that they had no other victuals but such as they had from the maine Land in the night season Thus hee continued nine moneths before any succour was brought him from Panama but in the end his ship returned with fortie men onely and victuals whereupon hee prosecuted his Voyage till hee came to the first plaine Countrie of Peru called Tumbez where hee found a Fort made by the King of Peru against the Indians of the Mountaines Wherefore Pizarro and his men were very glad in that they had found a People of so good vnderstanding and discretion being rich also in Gold and Siluer and well apparelled At this Port of Tumbez hee tooke thirtie thousand Pezos of Gold in trucke of Merchandise and hauing two few men to proceed any further he carried two Indians with him to learne the Language and returned backe for Panama Vpon this Discouerie Francisco Pizarro thought it expedient to trauell into Spaine to craue of the King the Conquest of this Land Whither being come the King granted his request And with the money which he carried ouer with him he hired a great number of men with a Fleet of shippes and brought also along with him foure of his Brethren very valiant and hardy men And being come to Panama he straightway went on his Voyage for Peru being accompanied with his Partner Diego de Almagro They sayled first to the Iland called
is within a league of the I le which is called the Ile du Coudre or the I le of Fâ—lberds which may be some two leagues in length And from the said I le to the Land on the North side is a league The said Ile is some what euen and groweth sharpe toward both the ends on the West end there are Medowes and Points of Rockes which stretch somewhat into the Riuer The said Ile is somewhat pleasant by reason of the Woods which enuiron the same There is store of Slate and the soyle is somewhat grauelly at the end whereof there is a Rocke which stretcheth into the Sea about halfe a league We passed to the North of the said I le which is distant from the I le of the Hare twelue leagues The Thursday following we departed from thence and anchored at a dangerous nooke on the Northside where there be certaine Medowes and a little Riuer where the Sauages lodge sometimes The said day wee still ranged the Coast on the North vnto a place where wee put backe by reasons of the winds which were contrary vnto vs where there were many Rockes and places very dangeous here we stayed three dayes wayting for faire weather All this Coast is nothing but Mountaynes as well on the South side as on the North the most part like the Coast of the Riuer of Saguenay On Sunday the two and twentieth of the said moneth wee departed to goe to the I le of Orleans in the way there are many Iles on the South shoare which are low and couered with trees shewing to be very pleasant contayning as I was able to iudge some two leagues and one league and another halfe a league About these Iles are nothing but Rocks and Flats very dangerous to passe and they are distant some two leagues from the mayne Land on the South And from thence wee ranged the I le of Orleans on the Southside It is a league from the North shoare very pleasant and leuell contayning eight leagues in length The Coast on the South shoare is low land some two leagues into the Countrey the said lands begin to below ouer against the said Ile which beginneth two leagues from the South Coast to passe by the North side is very dangerous for the bankes of Sand and Rockes which are betweene the said Ile and the mayne Land which is almost all dry at a low water At the end of the said Ile I saw a fall of water which fell from a great Mountaine of the said Riuer of Canada and on the top of the said Mountaine the ground is leuell and pleasant to behold although within the said Countries a man may see high Mountaynes which may bee some twenty or fiue and twenty leagues within the Lands which are neere the first Sault of Saguenay We anchored at Quebec which is a Strait of the said Riuer of Canada which is some three hundred pases broad there is at this Strait on the North side a very high Mountayne which falleth downe on both sides all the rest is a leuell and goodly Countrey where there are good grounds full of Trees as Okes Cypresses Birches Firre-trees and Aspes and other Trees bearing fruit and wild Vines So that in mine opinion if they were dressed they would be as good as ours There are along the Coast of the said Quebec Diamants in the Rockes of Slate which are better then those of Alonson From the said Quebec to the I le of Coudre or Filberds are nine and twenty leagues ON Munday the three and twentieth of the said moneth we departed from Quebec where the Riuer beginneth to grow broad sometimes one league then a league and an halfe or two leagues at most The Countrey groweth still fairer and fairer and are all low grounds without Rockes or very few The North Coast is full of Rockes and bankes of Sand you must take the South side about some halfe league from the shore There are certaine small Riuers which are not nauigable but only for the Canowes of the Sauages wherein there be many fals Wee anchored as high as Saint Croix which is distant from Quebec fifteene leagues This is a low point which riseth vp on both sides The Countrey is faire and leuell and the soyles better then in any place that I haue seene with plenty of wood but very few Firre-trees and Cypresses There are in these parts great store of Vines Peares small Nuts Cheries Goose-beries red and greene and certaine small Roots of the bignesse of a little Not resembling Musheroms in taste which are very good roasted and sod All this soyle is blacke without any Rockes saue that there is great store of Slate The soyle is very soft and if it were well manured it would yeeld great increase On the Northside there is a Riuer which is called Batiscan which goeth farre into the Countrey whereby sometimes the Algoumequins come downe and another on the same side three leagues from the said Saint Croix in the way from Quebec which is that where Iacques Quartier was in the beginning of the Discouery which he made hereof and hee passed no farther The said Riuer is pleasant and goeth farre vp into the Countries All this North Coast is very leuell and delectable On Tuesday the foure and twentieth of the said moneth wee departed from the said Saint Croix where we stayed a tyde and an halfe that we might passe the next day following by day light because of the great number of Rockes which are thwart the Riuer a strange thing to behold which is in a manner dry at a low water But at halfe flood a man may beginne to passe safely yet you must take good heed with the Lead alwayes in hand The tyde floweth heere almost three fathomes and an halfe the farther we went the fairer was the Countrey We went some fiue leagues and an halfe and anchored on the North side The Wednesday following wee departed from the said place which is a flatter Countrey then that which we passed before full of great store of Trees as that of Saint Croix We passed hard by a little I le which was full of Vines and came to an Anchor on the South side neere a little Hill but beeing on the top thereof all is euen ground There is at other little Ile three leagues from Saint Croix ioyning neere the South shore Wee departed from the said Hill the Thursday following and passed by a little I le which is neere the North shoare where I saw sixe small Riuers whereof two are able to beare Boats farre vp and another is three hundred pases broad there are certaine Ilands in the mouth of it it goeth farre vp into the Countrey it is the deepest of all the rest which are very pleasant to behold the soyle being full of Trees which are like to Walnut-trees and haue the same smell but I saw no Fruit which maketh me doubt the Sauages told
his Lordship would passe ouer into the Mayne For without him I had no great desire and indeed I should haue beene quickly missed seeing it pleased his Honor to vse mee in the dispatch of all things which were to be done by warrant or direction vnder his hand So that whatsoeuer I shall say here I must be content to report vpon the report of others and I will not tell you any thing which mee thought my selfe did not first see reason to beleeue The plat and figure of the Iland is a square altera parte longius the length exceeding the breadth neere the proportion of seuen to foure for it is told me to be sixe and thirtie leagues long and twentie leagues broad bearing it selfe out from end to end neere in the same distance It lyeth East and West at the West end the two corners doe so jut out that they make a goodly Bay betwixt them but yet not so profitable because a goodly Riuer which would gladly disburden it selfe into the Bay is choaked with sands which the Sea casteth vp into the mouth of the Riuer which being nauigable a good way vp into the Land is within a stones cast of losing his old name and being called the Sea made shallow and vnfit for the receit of Vessels of burthen There are indeed in the same Bay other lesser Riuerets whereat Passengers vse to take in fresh water as Sir Francis Drake did after hee was beaten from the Citie of Puerto Rico and put forth thence to Nombre de Dios. Vpon this part of the Iland which is commonly called La Aquada in English The watering place the greatest Commander and of largest possessions is or of late hath beene one Chereno whose proper land is thought to containe in compasse and circuit neere the quantitie of ten leagues The other end the Easterly end is knowne by the name of La cabeça de San Iuan in English Saint Iohns head The Citie of Puerto Rico is his right side or arme and the South side about the Countrie of Choama whither the Bishop at our comming had carried himselfe will be answerable to the left side or left arme as being lesse fit for action and his feet is the watering place The most famous Riuers of this Iland are Toa and Baiamond the rather because they runne into the Harbour of the Citie of Puerto Rico whereof Toa is by much the greater and falleth more with the West of the Towne This Riuer riseth out of a Mountaine called Guiamo being on the South side of the mayne Iland some fifteene or sixteene leagues from Ricoâ—o â—o the Eastward from Guiamo it runneth North in one streame till it come to another Mountaine called Cawas and though in this way it receiue many Riuerets into it yet it cannot bee said either to lose or retaine his name for thus farre it is not knowne certainly what name it had as they say but here parteth it selfe into two streames the one whereof runneth Northerly to Luisa a Towne not great but somewhat fortified standing some sixe leagues to the Eastward of Puerto Rico. Whether the Towne doe giue or take his name of this arme of the Riuer it is vnknowne But well knowne it is that they haue both one name The other streame being once diuorced from Luisa runneth North North-west and falleth into the Harbour of Puerto Rico where it is called Toa Baiamond riseth betwixt the parting of Toa and Luisa and runneth a Northerly but more Easterly course withall till it mingleth it selfe with salt water on the South-west side of Puerto Rico. The Iland is watered with very many other Riuers and Riuerets and Springs without number or names but those that giue or take names of the Villages and Townes which stand vpon them for the most part runne Northerly For besides Guiamo which riseth in the Countrie of Coama and runneth into the Southerly Sea and the Riuer whereon Saint German which also is called Salamanca and Guadianilla is situate towards the West end of the Iland neere to Cape Roxo all the other of name runne to the leeward of the Iland and fall into the Northerly Sea As first and next to Puerto Rico to the Westward the Riuer and Towne of Saâ—uco next to it Guiamo then the Recibo twixt which and the Laguada is another whose name I could not learne The Laguada whereof I spake before and which giueth name to the Westerly end of the Iland where Sir Francis Drake as I said watered is next vnto the choaked Bay before mentioned in which Bay at the North-west Point is the Gawaraba which the Seas violence hath made something vnprofitable for nauigation so that the passage to Saint Domingo and the other leeward parts of the West Indies are most ordinarily from the Laguada if they of the Westerly part of the Iland haue any businesse that way For as Saint Germans or Salamanca though I haue heard it to be a Harbour and a Sea-faring Towne yet I am told so much to the contrarie as makes me doubt of the former report though I dare not absolutely assent to this later though a Spaniard of good vnderstanding told it me Now in euery one of these Riuers which I haue named is there gold found ordinarily before it be sought And I know it to bee true when the Spaniards perceiued by his Lordships manner of leauing the Citie of Puerto Rico that hee went not away without purpose to returne one of them told his Honor in plaine termes that he could not thrust his spade into any of these named Riuers and many other besides these but hee should finde gold This certainly is true and I haue seene the experience that some of the grauell of one of these Riuers being brought to his Lordship because it looked rich when triall was made onely by washing away the sand and grauell there was cornes of very good gold found in it and that for the quantitie and proportion in great measure Where because we are againe fallen into this argument I will report vnto you a certaine truth whereby the richnesse of the mynes in Puerto Rico may be esteemed One Ioancho de Luyando a Mint-master in this Iland dwelling in the Guadianilla neere to Saint Germans or at the least hauing workes there tooke a bullion or masse of gold so pure as it needed no further triall that being sent to the King it was found worth three thousand and fiue hundreth Duckets and diuers times he found such plates that onely splitting them he made himselfe trenchers of gold to eate his meat on This man may bee judged to haue beene of no great either wit or care for it is certainly reported that oftentimes meeting his owne slaues comming out of the Countrie to his house in Puerto Rico with store of gold hee did not know them to be his owne till themselues told him so and yet this man dyed so very rich that he left euery of his
he approued that which I said I asked him what ceremony they vsed in praying to their God He told me that they vsed none other ceremonies but that euery one praied in his heart as he thought good This is the cause why I beleeue they haue no law among them neither doe they know how to worship or pray to God and liue for the most part like brute beasts and I thinke in short space they would be brought to be good Christians if their Countrie were planten which they desire for the most part They haue among them certaine Sauages which they call Pilotoua which speak visibly with the Diuell which telleth them what they must doe as well for the warre as for other things and if he should command them to put any enterprise in execution either to kill a French man or any other of their Nation they would immediately obey his commandement Also they beleeue that all the dreames which they dreame are true and indeede there are many of them which say that they haue seene and dreamed things which doe happen or shall happen But to speake truely of these things they are visions of the Diuell which doth deceiue and seduce them Loe this is all their beliefe that I could learne of them which is brutish and bestiall All these people are well proportioned of their bodies without any deformitie they are well set and the women are well shapen fat and full of a tawnie colour by abundance of a certaine painting wherewith they rubbe themselues which maketh them to be of an Oliue colour They are apparelled with skins one part of their bodies is couered and the other part vncouered but in the winter they couer all for they are clad with good Furres namely with the skins of Orignac Otters Beuers Lea-boores Stagges and Deere whereof they haue store In the winter when the Snowes are great they make a kinde of racket which is twice or thrice as bigge as one of ours in France which they fasten to their feete and so goe on the Snow without sinking for otherwise they could not hunt nor trauaile in many places They haue also a kinde of Marriage which is that when a Maide is foureteene or fifteene yeares old shee shall haue many seruants and friends and she may haue carnall company with all those which she liketh then after fiue or six yeares she may take which of them she will for her husband and so they shall liue together all their life time except that after they haue liued a certaine time together and haue no children the man may forsake her and take another wife saying that his old wife is nothing worth so that the Maides are more free then the married Women After they be married they be chaste and their husbands for the most part are iealous which giue presents to the Father or Parents of the Maide which they haue married loe this is the ceremonie and fashion which they vse in their marriages Touching their burials when a man or woman dieth they make a pit wherein they put all the goods which they haue as Kettels Furres Hatchets Bowes and Arrowes Apparell and other things and then they put the corps into the graue and couer it with earth and set store of great peeces of wood ouer it and one stake they set vp on end which they paint with red on the top They beleeue the immortality of the Soule and say that when they be dead they goe into other Countries to reioyce with their parents and friends THe eleuenth day of Iune I went some twelue or fifteene leagues vp Saguenay which is a faire Riuer and of incredible depth for I beleeue as farrâ— as I could learne by conference whence it should come that it is from a very high place from whence there descendeth a fall of water with great impetuositie but the water that proceedeth thereof is not able to make such a Riuer as this which neuerthelesse holdeth not but from the said course of water where the first fall is vnto the Port of Tadousac which is the mouth of the said Riuer of Saguenay in which space are fortie fiue or fiftie leagues and it is a good league and a halfe broad at the most and a quarter of a league where it is narrowest which causeth a great currant of water All the Countrie which I saw was nothing but Mountaines the most part of rockes couered with woods of Fâ—r-trees Cypresses and Birch-trees the soyle very vnpleasant where I found not a league of plaine Countrey neither on the one side nor on the other There are certaine hils of Sand and Isles in the said Riuer which are very high aboue the water In fine they are very Desarts voide of Beasts and Birds for I assure you as I went on hunting through places which seemed most pleasant vnto mee I found nothing at all but small Birds which are like Nightingales and Swallowes which come thither in the Summer for at other times I thinke there are none because of the excessiue cold which is there this Riuer commeth from the North-west They reported vnto me that hauing passed the first fall from whence the currant of water commeth they passe eight other sants or fals and then they trauaile one dayes iourney without finding any then they passe ten other sants and come into a Lake which they passe in two dayes euery day they trauaile at their ease some twelue or fifteene leagues at the end of the Lake there are people lodged then they enter into three other Riuers three or foure dayes in each of them at the end of which Riuers there are two or three kinde of Lakes where the head of Saguenay beginneth from the which head or spring vnto the said Port of Tadousac is ten dayes iournee with their Canowes On the side of the said Riuers are many lodgingings whither other Nacions come from the North to trucke with the said Mountainers for skins of Beuers and Marterns for other Merchandises which the French Ships bring to the said Mountainers The said Sauages of the North say that they see a Sea which is salt I hold if this be so that it is some gulfe of this our Sea which disgorgeth it selfe by the North part between the lands and in very deede it can be nothing else This is that which I haue learned of the Riuer of Saguenay ON Wednesday the eighteenth day of Iune we departed from Tadousac to go to the Sault we passed by an I le which is called the Ile dulieure or the I le of the Hare which may be some two leagues from the Land on the North side and some seuen leagues from the said Tadousac and fiue leagues from the South Coast. From the I le of the Hare we ranged the North Coast about halfe a league vnto a point that runneth into the Sea where a man must keepe farther off The said point
anchored at the three Riuers This day wee sayled some foure leagues beyond the said three Riuers The Tuesday following we came to Quebec and the next day wee were at the end of this I le of Orleans where the Sauages came to vs which were lodged in the maine Land on the North side Wee examined two or three Algoumequins to see whether they would agree with those that wee had examined touching the end and the beginning of the said Riuer of Canada They said as they had drawne out the shape thereof that hauing passed the Sault which wee had seene some two or three leagues there goeth a Riuer into their dwelling which is on the North side So going on forward in the said great Riuer they passe a Sault where they carrie their Canoas and they come to passe fiue other Saults which may containe from the first to the last some nine or ten leagues and that the said Saults are not hard to passe and they doe but draw their Canoas in the most part of the said Saults or Falls sauing at two where they carrie them from thence they enter into a Riuer which is as it were a kinde of Lake which may containe some sixe or seuen leagues and then they passe fiue other Falls where they draw their Canoas as in the first mentioned sauing in two where they carrie them as in the former and that from the first to the last there are some twenty or fiue and twenty leagues Then they come into a Lake contayning some hundred and fifty leagues in length and foure or fiue leagues within the entrance of that Lake there is a Riuer which goeth to the Algoumequins toward the North and another Riuer which goeth to the Irocois whereby the said Algoumequins and Irocois make warre the one against the other Then comming to the end of the said Lake they meete with another Fall where they carrie their Canoas From thence they enter into another exceeding great Lake which may containe as much as the former They haue beene but a very little way in this last Lake and haue heard say that at the end of the said Lake there is a Sea the end whereof they haue not seene neither haue heard that any haue seene it But that where they haue beene the water is not salt because they haue not entred farre into it and that the course of the water commeth from the Sun-setting toward the East and they knowe not whether beyond the Lake that they haue seene there be any other course of water that goeth Westward That the Sunne setteth on the right hand of this Lake which is according to my iudgement at the North-west little more or lesse and that in the first great Lake the water freezeth not which maketh mee iudge that the climate is there temperate and that all the Territories of the Algoumequins are lowe grounds furnished with small store of wood And that the coast of the Irocois is Mountainous neuerthelesse they are excellent good and fertile soyles and better then they haue seene any where else That the said Irocois reside some fifty or sixty leagues from the said great Lake And this assuredly is all which they haue told mee that they haue seene which differeth very little from the report of the first Sauages This day wee came within some three leagues of the I le of Coudres or Filberds On Thursday the tenth of the said moneth wee came within a league and an halfe of the I le Du Lieure or Of the Hare on the North side where other Sauages came into our Pinnace among whom there was a young man an Algoumequin which had trauelled much in the said great Lake Wee examined him very particularly as wee had done the other Sauages Hee told vs that hauing passed the said Fall which wee had seene within two or three leagues there is a Riuer which goeth to the said Algoumequins where they be lodged and that passing vp the great Riuer of Canada there are fiue Falls which may containe from the first to the last some eight or nine leagues whereof there bee three where they carrie their Canoas and two others wherein they draw them that each of the said Falls may be a quarter of a league long then they come into a Lake which may containe some fifteene leagues Then they passe fiue other Falls which may containe from the the first to the last some twenty or fiue and twenty leagues where there are not past two of the said Falls which they passe with their Canoas in the other three they doe but draw them From thence they enter into an exceeding great Lake which may containe some three hundred leagues in length when they are passed some hundred leagues into the said Lake they meet with an Iland which is very great and beyond the said Iland the water is brackish But when they haue passed some hundred leagues farther the water is yet falter and comming to the end of the said Lake the water is wholly salt Farther he said that there is a Fall that is a league broad from whence an exceeding current of water descendeth into the said Lake That after a man is passed this Fall no more land can be seene neither on the one side nor on the other but so great a Sea that they neuer haue seene the end thereof nor haue heard tell that any other haue seene the same That the Sunne setteth on the right hand of the said Lake and that at the entrance thereof there is a Riuer which goeth to the Algoumequins and another Riuer to the Irocois whereby they warre the one against the other That the Countrie of the Irocois is somewhat mountainous yet very fertile where there is store of Indian Wheat and other fruits which they haue not in their Countrie That the Countrie of the Algoumequins is lowe and fruitfull I enquired of them whether they had any knowledge of any Mines They told vs that there is a Nation which are called the good Irocois which come to exchange for merchanâ—â—ses which the French ships doe giue to the Algoumequins which say that there is toward the North a Mine of fine Copper whereof they shewed vs certaine Bracelets which they had receiued of the said Good Irocois and that if any of vs would goe thither they would bring them to the place which should bee appointed for that businesse And this is all which I could learne of the one and the other differing but very little saue that the second which were examined said that they had not tasted of the salt water for they had not beene so farre within the said Lake as the others and they differ some small deale in the length of the way the one sort making it more short and the other more long So that according to their report from the Sault or Fall where wee were is the space of some foure hundred leagues vnto the
Cape is well neere a mile broad and lieth North-east by East The Captaine went here ashoare and found the ground to be full of Pease Strawberies Hurtberies c. as then vnripe the sand also by the shoare somewhat deepe the fire-wood there by vs taken in was of Cypresse Birch Wich-hazell and Beech. A young Indian came here to the Captaine armed with his Bow and Arrowes and had certaine plates of Copper hanging at his Eares hee shewed a willingnesse to helpe vs in our occasions The sixteenth we trended the Coast Southerly which was all champaine and full of grasse but the Ilands somewhat wooddie Twelue leagues from Cape Cod we descried a point with some breach a good distance off and keeping our losse to double it wee came on the sudden into shoale water yet well quitted our selues thereof This breach wee called Tuckers Terror vpon his expressed feare The Point we named Point Care hauing passed it wee bore vp againe with the Land and in the night came with it anchoring in eight fadome the ground good The seuenteenth appeared many breaches round about vs so as wee continued that day without remooue The eighteenth being faire we sent forth the Boat to sound ouer a Breach that in our course lay of another Point by vs called Gilberts Point who returned vs foure fiue sixe and seuen fadome ouer Also a Discouery of diuers Ilands which after prooued to bee Hils and Hummocks distinct within the Land This day there came vnto the ships side diuers Canoas the Indians apparelled as aforesaid with Tobacco and Pipes steeled with Copper Skins artificiall strings and other trifles to barter one had hanging about his necke a plate of â—â—ch Copper in length a foot in breadth halfe a foot for a brest-plate the Eares of all the rest had Pendants of Copper Also one of them had his face ouer painted and his head stucke with feathers in manner of a Turkey Cocks traine These are more timerous then those of the Sauâ—ge Rocke yet very theeuish The nineteenth we passed ouer the breach of Gilberts Point in foure or fiue fadome and anchored a league or somewhat more beyond it betweene the last two Points are two leagues the interim along shoale water the latitude here is 41. degrees two third parts The twentieth by the ships side we there killed Pengwins and saw many sculs of fish The Coast from Gilberts Point to the supposed Iles lyeth East and by South Here also we discouered two Inlets which might promise fresh water inwardly whereof we perceiued much smoake as though some population had there beene This Coast is very full of people for that as we trended the same Sauages still runne along the shoare as men much admiring at vs. The one and twentieth we went coasting from Gilberts Point to the supposed Iles in tenne nine eight seuen and sixe fadome close aboord the shoare and that depth lyeth a league off A little from the supposed Iles appeared vnto vs an opening with which we stood iudging it to bee the end of that which Captaine Gosnoll descrieth from Cape Cod and as hee thought to extend some thirtie or more miles in length and finding there but three fadome a league off we omitted to make further discouerie of the same calling it Shole-hope From this opening the Mayne lyeth south-South-west which coasting along we saw a disinhabited Iland which so afterwards appeared vnto vs we bore with it and named it Marthaes Vineyard from Shole-hope it is eight leagues in circuit the Iland is fiue miles and hath 41. degrees and one quarter of latitude the place most pleasant for the two and twentieth we went a shoare and found it full of Wood Vines Gooseberie bushes Hurtberies Raspices Eglentine c. Heere we had Cranes Hearnes Shoulers Geese and diuers other Birds which there at that time vpon the Cliffes being sandie with some Rockie stones did breed and had young In this place we saw Deere heere we rode in eight fathome neere the shoare where wee tooke great store of Cod as before at Cape Cod but much better The three and twentieth wee weyed and towards night came to Anchor at the Northwest part of this Iland where the next morning offâ—red vnto vs fast running thirteene Sauages apparelled as aforesaid and armed with Bowes and Arrowes without any feare They brought Iobacco Deere skins and some sodden fish These offered themselues vnto vs in great familiaritie who seemed to be well conditioned They came more rich in Copper then any before This Iland is sound and hath no danger about it The foure and twentieth we set saile and doubled the Cape of another Iland next vnto it which wee called Douer Cliffe and then came into a faire Sound where wee roade all night the next morning wee sent off our Boate to discouer another Cape that lay betweene vs and the Mayne from which were a ledge of Rockes a mile into the Sea but all aboue water and without danger we went about them and came to Anchor in eight fadome a quarter of a mile from the shoare in one of the stateliest Sounds that euer I was in This called wee Gosnolls Hope the North banke whereof is the Mayne which stretcheth East and West This Iland Captaine Gosnoll called Elizabeths Ile where we determined our abode the distance betweene euery of these Ilands is viz. from Marthaes Vineyard to Douer Cliffe halfe a league ouer the Sound thence to Elizabeths Ile one league distant From Elizabeths Ile vnto the Mayne is foure leagues On the North side neere adioyning vnto the Iland Elizabeth is an Ilet in compasse halfe a myle full of Cedars by me called Hills Hap to the Northward of which in the mouth of an opening on the Mayne appeareth another the like that I called Haps Hill for that I hope much hap may be expected from it The fiue and twentieth it was that we came from Gosnolls Hope The six and twentieth we trimmed and fitted vp our Shallop The seuen and twentieth there came vnto vs an Indian and two women the one we supposed to be his Wife the other his Daughter both cleane and straite bodied with countenance sweet and pleasant To these the Indian gaue heedfull attendance for that they shewed them in much familiaritie with our men although they would not admit of any immodest touch The eight and twentieth we entred counsell about our abode and plantation which was concluded to be in the West part of Elizabeths Iland The North-east thereof running from out our ken The South and North standeth in an equall Parallel This Iland in the Westerâ—de admitteth some Increekes or sandie Coues so girded as the water in some places of each side meeteth to which the Indians from the Mayne doe oftentimes resort for fishing of Crabs There is eight fadome very neere the shoare and the latitude here is 41. degrees 10. minutes the breadth from Sound to Sound in the
loosed from thence and the seuen and twentieth thereof they arriued at Saint Iohns Harbour in New-found-land and from thence sailed alongst the Bay of Conception where they left the Ship and dispatched themselues home in seuerall Ships that belonged to the West part of England and doe intend this next Spring to set forth a Colony to plant there The description of the Countrey of Mawooshen discouered by the English in the yeere 1602. 3. 5. 6. 7. 8. and 9. MAwooshen is a Countrey lying to the North and by East of Uirginia betweene the degrees of 43. and 45. It is fortie leagues broad and fiftie in length lying in breadth East and West and in length North and South It is bordered on the East side with a Countrey the people whereof they call Tarrantines on the West with Epistoman on the North with a great Wood called Senaglecoune and on the South with the mayne Ocean Sea and many Ilands In Mawooshen it seemeth there are nine Riuers whereof the first to the East is called Quibiquesson on which there is one Towne wherein dwell two Sagamos or Lords the one called Asticon the other Abermot In this Towne are fiftie houses and 150. men The name of which Towne is Precante this Riuer runneth farre vp into the Mayne at the head thereof there is a Lake of a great length and breadth it is at the fall into the Sea tenne fathoms deepe and halfe a mile ouer The next is Pemaquid a goodly Riuer and very commodious all things considered it is ten fathoms water at the entrance and fortie miles vp there are two fathoms and a halfe at low water it is halfe a mile broad and runneth into the Land North many daies iourney where is a great Lake of 18. leagues long and foure broad In this Lake are seuen great Ilands toward the farthest end there falleeh in a Riuer which they call Acaconstomed where they passe with their Boates thirtie daies iourney vp and from thence they goe ouer Land twentie daies iourney more and then come to another Riuer where they haue a trade with Anadabis or Anadabijon with whom the Frenchmen haue had commerce for a long time Neere to the North of this Riuer of Pemaquid are three Townes the first is Upsegon where Bashabes their chiefe Lord doth dwell And in this Towne are sixtie houses and 250. men it is three daies iourney within the Land The second is Caiocame the third Shasheekeing These two last Townes are opposite one to the other the Riuer diuiding them both and they are two daies iourney from the Towne of Bashabes In Caioc 〈…〉 dwelleth Maiesquis and in Shasheokeing Bowant two Sagamos subiects to Bashabes Vpon both sides of this Riuer vp to the very Lake for a good distance the ground is plaine without Trees or Bushes but full of long Grasse like vnto a pleasant meadow which the Inhabitants doe burne once a yeere to haue fresh feed for their Deere Beyond this Meadow are great Woods whereof more shall bee spoken hereafter The Riuer of Pemaquid is foure dayes iourney from the mouth of Quibiquesson The third Riuer is called Ramassoc and is distant from the mouth of Pemaquid foure daies iourney it is twentie fathoms at the entrance and hath a mile ouer it runneth into the Land three daies iourney and within lesse then a daies iourney of the dwelling of Bashabes vpon this Riuer there is a Towne named Panobscot the Lord whereof is called Sibatahood who hath in his Town fiftie houses and eightie men The fourth Riuer Apanawapeske lying West and by South of Ramassoc at the entrance whereof there is twentie fathoms water and it is a mile broad it runneth vp into the Countrey fiue daies iourney and within three daies of the mouth are two Townes the one called Meecombe where dwelleth Aramasoga who hath in his Towne fiftie houses and eightie men The other is Chebegnadose whose Lord is Skanke and hath thirtie houses and ninetie men The mouth of Apanawapeske is distant from Ramassoc three daies iourney To the South-west foure daies iourney there is another excellent Riuer in the entranc◠whereof is twentie fathoms water and it is a quarter of a mile broad it runneth into the Land two daies iourney and then there is a great fall at the head wherof there is a Lake of a daies iourney long and as much in breadth On the side of this Lake there is a Strait and at the end of that Strait there is another Lake of foure daies iourney long and two daies iourney broad wherin there are two Ilands one at the one end and another at the other end I should haue told you that both these Lakes as also the rest formerly spoken of doe infinitely abound with fresh water fish of all sorts◠as also with diuers sorts of Creatures as Otters Beeues sweete Rats and such like The sixt Riuer is called Apponick on which there are three Townes the first is called Appisham where dwelleth Abochigishic The second is Mesaqueegamic where dwelleth Amniquin in which there is seuentie houses and eightie men the third is Matammiscowte in which are eightie houses and ninetie men and there dwelleth Narracommique To the Westward of this there is another Riuer called Aponeg it hath at the entrance ten fathoms water and is a mile broad it runneth vp into a great Sound of fresh water Vpon the East side of this Riuer there are two Townes the one called Nebamocago the other called Ashawe In the first dwelleth Mentavrmet and hath in his Towne 160. housholds and some 300. men In the second dwelleth Hamerhaw and hath in his Towne eightie housholds and seuentie men On the West side there is another Towne called Neredoshan where are 120. housholds and 100. men There is a Sagamo or Lord called Sabenaw Three daies iourney from Aponeg to the Westward there is a goodly Riuer called Sagadohoc the entrance whereof is a mile and an halfe ouer holding that breadth a daies iourney and then it maketh a great Sound of three daies iourney broad in which Sound are six Ilands foure great and full of Woods and two lesse without Woods The greater are called Sowaghcoc Neguiwo Neiwoc And in the verie entrance of this Riuer there is another small Iland from the West of which Iland to the Maine there is a Sand that maketh as it were a bar so that that way is not passable for shipping but to the Eastward there is two fathoms water This Sound diuideth it selfe into two branches or armes the one running North-east twentie foure daies iourney the other North-west thirtie daies iourney into the Maine At the heads whereof there are two Lakes the Westermost being eight daies iourney long and foure daies iourney broad and the Eastermost foure daies iourney long and two daies broad The Riuer of Aponeg runneth vp into this Sound and so maketh as it were a great Iland
course of water Great Lake described and Riuer of the Irocois Chap. 7. The Lake of Argolesme 15. leagues A great Riuer Another small Riuer Two leagues 30. maâ— Ilands Wal nuts of two sorts Store of Vines Good Countries The Riuer of the Irocois Their manner of fortification with stakes Fiue Ilands This Riuer runneth almost South-west A Lake some fortie or fiftie leagues long in the Countrey of the Irocois The goodnesse and short winter of the Countrey of the Irocois Their arriual at the Sault or Fall of the Riuer of Canada the description thereof Cha. 8. Fruitfull Trees of many sorts Orignas are before said to bee like oxen perhaps Buffes Lâ—sâ—arbot that Orignacs are Ellans Wild beasts A pleasant I le Many Ilands Iuly 3. Many more Ilands The entrance of the Sault or Fall Anlle A greatt current of water Monâ—â—eur du Pont â—nd Monsicur du Champlaine search the Sanâ—â— Two great Ilands A kind of Lake some 5. leagues long 3. or 4. Mountaines on the South side Two Riuers The surie of the fall of water The Sault a league broad The swift current of the water aboue the Fall Ten Saults mâ—râ— Temperate aire and good soyle The Sault is in 45. degrees and certaine minutes A draught of the Sauages The first report of the Sauages touching the Head of the Riuer A Riuer running 60. leags into the Countrie of the Algeumequins A Lake of 15. leagues Another Lake of 4. leagues Fiue other Saults A Lake of 80. leagues long Brackish water * It seemeth hereby to trend soâ—thward The last Sault Another Lake 60. leagues long very brackish A Strait of 2. leagues broad Another mightie Lake The southerne situation of a great Lake The water as salt as sea water Many Riuers running south and north Hudsons Riuer may be one of these An exceediug great Riuer The south Sea Of Canada and of the number of the Fals and Lakes which it passeth by Chap. 9. Iuly 4. The Riuer of the Irocois Another report of the Algoumequin Sauages A Riuer or Lake 6. or 7. leagues long A Lake 150. leagues long A Riuer on the North side going toward the Algoumequins A Riuer on the south side Another exceeding great Lake A Sea the end whereof the Sauages neuer saw It seemeth to lie southward The I le Coudres The Ile Du Lieure or Of the Hare The third report made by a great Traueller A Lake 15. leagues long An exceeding great Lake 300 luagues long A very great Iland Brâ—ckish water More brackish water Whole salt water A great and maine Sea A Riuer which goeth to the Algoumequins A Mine of fine Copper Some 400. leagues from the first Sault to the South-sea Their Voyage from Tadousac to the I le percee of many Riuers Lakes and Câ—uâ—â—ries wherein are found sundry sorts of Mines Chap. 10. 100. leagues from Gachepay to â—adousac Armouchides Sagaâ—o The description of the Port of Cachepay The Bay of Cods The I le Percee The I le de Bonaduenture The Bay of Heate The Riuer of Mautanne Trâ—gate and Misamichy The Riuer Sourâ—ua A Mine of Copper An Iland A Strait betweene the Iles of Cape Breâ—oâ— and the maine Land Souricois A great Riuer on the South-west coast whereby th 〈…〉 e sauages inuade the 〈◊〉 Great Riuers and goo 〈…〉 〈…〉 ns on the câ—â—st◠〈◊〉 â—â—â—ridâ— or Virginiâ— A Riuer A Lake twenty leagues in compasse A metall like Siluer A Mine of Copper Our returne from the I le Percee to Tadousac with the description of the I le Grecks Ports Riuers 〈◊〉 R 〈…〉 Bayes 〈◊〉 Shoalds which are aâ—ong the North coast Chap 11. The North shoare The Riuer of Saâ—â—â— â—â—â—gâ—ret A sandy coast Very b 〈…〉 Countries A point that sunneth into the sea A good Creek where many ships may ride A Bay A Creeke Two little low Ilands Lesqueuim a very bad Port The Riuer where the Basks kill the whales Our arriuall at Tadousac the 3. of August Of the Aâ—mouchâ—cois Sauages and of their monstrous shape The discourse of Monsteur de Preâ—â—re of Saint Malo touching the discoucrie of the South-west Coast. Câ— 12. The Ceremonies which they vse before they go to the warres Their departure from Tadousac Armoâ—â—hicâ—iâ— deformed Sauages The Souricois The Relation of the Copper Myne on the South Coast. Another Mine Blacke painting An I le wherein another kind of Metall is found which is white being cut Other Mynes The description of the place where the said Myne is A good Hauen at the Copper Mynes Their returne Chap. 13. Câ—pe Rase The Banke The sounding Vshant The rest of thi Pâ—rentis here for breuitie omitted with the Prouisoes c. And let not Englishmen feare want of roome for French Plantations or Sauage habitations these being very thin the other scarse worrhy the name of being or plantation hauing so many interruptions and more frequented by the French in way of Trade with Sauages then otherwise I haue omitted many digressions and discourses of the Authour only for knowledge of those parts presenting the briefe summe of his most ample Worke. His Map but for cost I would haue here added I haue diuers by me which I take more exact I am sure with many many particulers wanting in his And both his Mappe and Discourse shew that the French discouered not so neere Virginia as Hudsons Riuer and that the French Plantations haue beene more Noreherly farte then our Northerne Virginia and to the Southerne not a shadow in compa 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 and numbers Lay Baye Francoise The Riuer of L' Equille Port Royall A Copper Myne In the 28. and 29. Chap. of the second Booke of the whole Volume vntranslated Things first to be prouided in new plantation Note This French Author was a Romish Catholike which yet speakes thus freely of the Spaniards Esay 52. vers 〈◊〉 Hatâ—â—â—y see sup Casâ—s Diamonds Turkie stones S. Iohns Riuer 1608. Vines Great Crapes among the Armouchiquois Abundance of fishes The commoditie of Voyaging by the Riuer The I le of S. Croix twâ—ntie leagues from S. Iohns Riuer Returne to the Bay of S. Mary where the lost man was fouÌ„d againe The Long I le Cheries The description of the I le of Saint Croix The fruitfulnesse of the soyle The Iland halfe a league in compasse Store of Muscles The returne of Monsieur du Poutrincourt into France The building at the I le of S. Croix Three discommodities in wintering at S. Croix Wickednesse of many Christians The Riuer of Roan Vnknown sicknesses viz. the Scorbute or Scuruie the greatest plague of Nauigations and new Plantations Fortifications and Garrisons besieged where want of fresh diet and of bodily labour or too much labour and watching with grosse aires in the Countries ouergrowne with wood or with marishes bogs and vnwholâ—ome waters are chiefe breedersthereof The Author hath made a long discourse of this disease the chiefe points whereof are here expressed for the benefit of our English Colonies in America in which I doubt not many
they staid it made the intelligence of the Mexico fleet more probable And therefore if this were the cause of their stay our hope to make some purchace of it made vs more willing to haue their neighbourhood Mary it might bee they were sent to looke for our comming home which they might thinke would be straggling and weake and yet on the other side the vncertaintie of our comming either at this time or certainly this way made this something vnlikely His Lordship therefore commandeo Captaine Slingsby a fine Gentleman to goe ashoare and to learne more certaintie what was become of the Kings fleet and why they came This relation was from the men of Santa Cruz but the intelligence which Captaine Slingsby brought the same night late was from Uilla de la punta Delgada another Towne of the Ilands The summe of his report for I was by when he made it was that his Excellencie should haue any thing where withall they could doe him seruice and if it would please him to come ashoare they would take it as a great fauour For the Kings men of Warre they said that they iudged them certainly to bee gone home for they were gone hence vpon a fortnight before The cause of their comming was to waft the Caracks which all foure were gone by before the Kings fleet came hither with purpose indeed to stay till the end of this moneth for them But since the Caracks were come home there had beene sent a Caruell of Aduise to recall them As for the Mexico fleet there was not at the Ilands any newes of their comming this yeere This report made by Captaine Slingsby ouer-night was confirmed early the next morning by the Gouernour himselfe of the place a poore Gouernour scarce so good as an English Constable But this Captaine Iuan de Fraga de Mandoça came himselfe and made the same offer to his Lordship and withall brought both Hennes and Muttons with him which hee knew hee should not giue for nothing though hee would seeme vnwilling to receiue any thing He hauing beene sometime with my Lord and told all the newes hee remembred was licensed hauing first asked and obtayned a Passe for himselfe and a Protection for the Ilanders to keepe them from spoile by ours His Lordship granted his suit and which hee farther desired that they might bee conceiued in the same forme as those were which the Earle of Essex had giuen him within two dayes of the same day twelue moneth and which himselfe had carefully kept euer since When this fellow was gone the flagge of Counsell was hanged out c. The returne of this fleet vpon consultation after the newes aforesaid I forbeare to mention in regard of the length of this discourse They set forth from Flores Septemb. 16. 1598. On Michaelmas day they sounded and the ground on the fallow did still more assure vs of being in the sleeue and the Scollop shells confirmed their opinion which held vs rather on the Coast of France by the Master and others iudged otherwise whose iudgement if his Lordship out of his iudgement and authoritie had not contradicted and caused them to take a more Northerly course all had perished in all likelihood on the Vshent and Rocks For the next morning we saw the land of Normandie CHAP. IIII. The first Voyages made to diuers parts of America by Englishmen Sir SEBASTIAN CABOT Sir THO. PERT also of Sir IOHN HAWKINS and Sir FRANCIS DRAKE and many others collected briefly out of Master CAMDEN Master HAKLVYT and other Writers SIr Sebastian Cabota wee haue alreadie mentioned in the former Booke as a great Discouerer of that which most iustly should haue beene called Columbina and a great deale better might haue beene stiled Cabotiana then America neither Uesputius nor Columbus hauing discouered halfe so much of the Continent of the new World North and South as be yea the Continent was discouered by him when Columbus had yet but viewed the Ilands this Herrera for the South part hath mentioned in his Relation of the Riuer of Plate before naming him an Englishman and for the North is by vs in the fourth Booke deliuered A second time Sir Thomas Pert and the said Cabota were set forth with a fleet to America by King Henrie the eighth in the eight yeere of his reigne the same perhaps which Herrera hath also mentioned of an English ship at Hispaniola and other American Ilands in the yeere 1517. Master Hakluyt hath published the Voyages of many English into those parts as namely of Master Robert Tomson Merchant and Iohn Field which together with Ralph Sarre and Leonard Chilton in a ship of Iohn Sweeting dwelling at Cadiz all Englishmen An. 1555. sayled to Hispaniola and thence to Mexico in New Spaine where they found Thomas Blake a Scottishman who had dwelt there twentie yeeres At Mexico Robert Tomson and Augustine Boatio an Italian were imprisoned many moneths by the Inquisition and then brought out in a Saint Benito or fooles coat to doe penance a thing neuer seene there before which caused much concourse of people giuen to vnderstand of I know not what enemies of God and expecting to see some Monsters of vncouâ—â— shape They were much pitied by the people seeing such personable men but sentenced by the Archbishop to be sent back to Spaine where Tomson did his three yeeres enioyned penance at Siuil Boatio found the meanes to escape and dyed after in London Tomson after his libertie married with a rich Spanish heire The historie at large and his description of Mexico with the cause of his imprisonment about speaking freely of Images his Master had made an Image of our Ladie of aboue 7000. pezos price each pezo being foure shillings and eight pence of our money the Reader may see in Master Hakluyt Where also is deliuered the voyage of Roger Bodenham Englishman 1564. to Mexico also of Iohn Chilton 1568. thither and from thence to Nueua Biscaâ—a and to the Port of Naâ—idad on the South Sea to Sansonate in Guatimala to Tecoantepec to Sâ—conusco to Nicaragua to Nombre de Dios to Potossi Cusco Paita to Vera Paz Chiapa three hundred leagues from Mexico From Chiapa he trauelled thorow Hills till he came to Ecatepec that is The Hill of winde in the end of that Prouince supposed the highest Hill that euer was discouered from the top whereof are seene both the North and South Seas deemed nine leagues high They which trauell vp it lye at the foot ouer-night and about midnight begin their iourney that they may trauell to the top before the Sunne rise the next day because the winde bloweth with such force afterwards that it is impossible for any man to goe vp From the foot of this Hill to Tecoantepec the first Towne of New Spaine are fifteene leagues From Mexico he trauelled againe to Panuco and there fell sick which sicknesse in his returne benefited him for he fell amongst Caniball Indian which
and mens names written in them This Riuer in our language is called the Riuer of Crocodiles for in it there are many which the Indians call Faquares it is narrow and in the mouth of it standeth a white Rocke To enter it you must take heed you keepe on the North side of this Rocke and you shall finde nine and ten foot water after you be within it you shall come to a great Bay and on the North-east side you shall finde a small Riuer where you may take fresh water but let euery man take heed how hee leapeth into the water for the Crocodiles lie by the banke-side hidden and if any thing fall into the water presently they kill it Here is nothing to bee had vnlesse you will fish for the Crocodiles and take the Bladders or Cods of muske from them here you need not feare any Inhabitants except you be espyed by some passengers that goe to Ferâ—ambuquâ— Alaqua is a very faire Riuer that lyeth foure leagues Northward from the Riuer of Saint Michael and three leagues Southward from the afore said Riuer of Crocodiles On either side of it you shall see a great Hill called by the Portugals Os Caiâ—â—â— You shall finde but seuen or eight foot water at the comming and very cleere from any Rocks but after you bee within you shall finde many bankes of sand where you shall kill good store of fish and alwayes you shall bee sure to haue Caruells fishing in this place at the comming in on both sides you may take fresh water Before the Riuer of Saint Michael you shall see the Cliffes like Arecines of Fernambuquo you must enter at the end of the Cliffe hard by the shoare on the south-South-west and you must marke a small Cliffe that lyeth betweene the mouth of the Riuer and the shoare this Cliffe you leaue betweene you and the shoare and betwixt this Cliffe and the great Rocks you may enter it three fathom water But take heed when you enter that you saile not towards the North-east although you see the Bay great for you shall run vpon many great bankes of sand therefore you must keepe West still within a stones cast of the shoare so shall you be sure to keepe in the Channell Thus you must saile till you discouer a house that you shall see doubling a Point full South from you then your best is to anchor for if you goe farther you are in danger except you know the Channell very well In this place dwels a Portugall called Iohn de Rocho and vp a Riuer that you shall see runne into the Land dwell many Portugals where they haue a Church with Friars to say Masse Here you shall haue good store of Cattell if you need and Brasill wood Cassaui meale and in this Riuer you shall haue good store of Oisters and in them you shall find many great Pearles likewise here is good store of Balsom oile and trees of All Nesico which is a very precious and rich wood singular good for bruises or old hurts also here is good store of Tabacco This place is eight leagues from the Riuer of Toades where we were driuen on the Rocks because we knew not where wee were for it is a singular good Harbour to enter if a man know the comming in betweene the Rocks called Os Bayos de Don Rodrigo Because the Indians indeed doe kill many Toades therefore they call it Cororoen that is to say the Riuer or water of Toades I tell you the name in the Indian language Because in all places you shall haue of them and so you may know when they tell you where you are When you are in ten degrees and an halfe Southwards of the Equinoctiall Line you shall see fiue hils and the three that standeth on the North side of this place whereof wee speake are round and high the other two that stand on the South not farre in distance one from another are long and lower then the other if you come neere the shoare you shall see a great many of small Rockes and a great Bay which is the place I speake of right before this Bay you shall see two great Rockes to goe into this Harbour you must passe betweene these Rockes which are called Bayos de don Rodrigo when you are â—ntred you may anchor hard by the Rockes and sound the Channell which will lye Norâ—h-east from you Here you may haue fresh water vp the Riuer but it will be hard for you to find therefore your best is to goe a quarter of a mile by the Sea side and you shall see a faâ—re Riuer where you may take water at pleasure and kill good store of fish At this place comming from the Riuer of Ienero in the night we were driuen vpon the Rockes for want of a Pilot that knew the Coast. I doe not set downe the places betweene this and the Cape Frio because I know them not but by report of other Trauellers and therefore I leaue it to them for I will write no more but what I haue seene and am able to proue when time shall serue and thus I end shewing you all that I haue seene on the Coast Northward of Cape Frio which is in our Language Cape Cold. Cape Frio is a point of the Land that runneth into the Sea at least twelue mile it lyeth vnder 22. degrees At this Cape you may haue sight of a great Mountaine that you may see ouer it called Abausango Reâ—ambuera here you may anchor on the East-side of this Cape in a Harbour called Abaâ—â—a formozo Here you may haue great store of Brassell-wood and in this Bay you shall find oftentimes good store of Ambeâ—-greece and on the North side of this Bay you shall see a great Riuer called vparason where you may kill good store of many kinde of fishes and in the mouth of this Riuer you shall haue great store of Corall if you will dragge for it Saquarema is a Riuer where the Frenchmen did traffique with the Canibals called Tamoyes it floweth foure leagues Southward from the Cape This Riuer is nâ—rrow at the comming in you shall find twelue foote water till you be three or foure leagues vp the Riuer You shall find fresh water on either side of the Riuer and great store of Brassell-wood all along the Riuer side On the South side of this Riuer you shall â—ee a great hill which the Indians call Boypeâ—a that is The rotten Whale for you shall see the top of it like a dead Whale If you want refreshing you may haue good store of Potato Roots there Plantons Lemons Orenges and many other good Roots as bigge as great Tuâ—nips which the Indians call Carauasou Etioca is a league Southward of the Riuer of Saquarema It is as I haue said in the description of my trauell a great and huge Rocke hollow within where the Indians say that the seruant of God did preach vnto them which they
call Topaâ—uayaperâ— before the mouth of this Rocke towardes the Sea standeth another flat Rocke that reacheth somewhat into the Sea vpon it you shall see the prints of bare feet here if you fish with Lines you may quickly lade your shippe A little behind this stone house you shall see a fine Riuer of water where you shall finde many pretie greene stones that Indians doe vse to weare in their lips You may anchor within a Musket shoâ— of the shore but it is verie dangerous if the wind be in the East Pirateningâ— is fiue leagues to the Southward of Etioca right before it standeth a small Iland it is inhabited by the Portugâ—ls It is a Bay that runneth betweene two Mountaines a mile and more within the Land There I haue seene a Mermaid and many other strange fishes You may lie with your shipping at the Iland and send your Boates ashore where you shall find great store of Cattle and you may take good 〈…〉 ore of all kind of fishes iâ— you will either with Hook or Net Here you may haue Oranges Lemmons and Cassaui Meale and all other such things that the Countrey yeeldeth but you must be alwaies sure to keepe good watch for feare of the Portugals of the Riuer of Ianuary which are hard by you The Riuer of Ianuary lieth three leagues from Pirateâ—inga it is a great Arme of the Sea that runneth into the Land at the least fourteene miles on the mouth of this place stand foure Ilands and now the best marke that it hath to be knowne is a Fort that standeth on the North side of the comming in of the Harbour vpon a Rock On the South side standeth a Hill that reacheth into the Sea which the Portugals call Câ—â—o that is The top of a ship for it seemeth like the maine top-saile of a ship from Sea Hard by the Sea side on the foote of this Hill on the North side of the Hill as you saile into the Harbour standeth a Rocke of great height made like a Sugar-loafe and is called by the Portugals the Sugar-loafe In the midst of the going in in the mouth of this Riuer lieth a Rocke plainly to bee seene to goe in you must keepe betweene the Rocke and the Fort that standeth on the North side of you When you are entred the mouth of the Riuer and are past the Fort you shall see an Iland lie right before you and euen with a Church called Santa Lucia this Iland is called the Iland of Brigalion You must be sure to passe on the North side of this Iland and assoone as you haue passed it you shall see all the Citie both on the Hill and on â—he Sea side Then you must take heed that you goe not right to the Towne for you shall run vpon certaine shelues of sand that lie right before the Towne all along to a small Iland called the Iland of Saint Bent this Iland lâ—eth a quarter of a mile from the Iland of Bragalion and Eastward of this Iland of Saint Bent standeth a great Rocke you may saile betweene the Rocke and the Iland and assoone as you haue entred betweene them you may anchor hard by the Iland and then you shall see a Church standing vpon a Hill which is called Saint Bent then you need not feare to goe right before the Towne within a Caleeuer shot of the shore from the Towne you shal see on the North-east shore a towne of Canibals called Saint Lorenzo which is in peace with the Portugals and within the Bay you shall finde many Riuers and Sugar-mils where there is great profit to be made Waratiua lieth three leagues from the Riuer of Ianuary you may know it by two Ilands that lie right before the mouth of the aforesaid Riuer At the mouth of the Riuer likewise standeth a high Hill and on either side both on the South-west and North-east is low Land in this place you cannot enter with any ship but you may anchor betweene the Ilands and send your Boats ashore If you goe vp you shall find good store of Potatoe Roots Plantons great store of Oranges and Lemmons and many other kind of fâ—uits which are very good to releeue sicke men If you will fish with youâ— Net heere you shall kill all kinde of good fishes but alwayes bee sure to keepe good watch for the Portugals are very neere you From the Riuer of Waratiâ—â— for the space of foure leagues is all sâ—ndy low Land you shall see a high Hill which the Indiaâ—s call Mâ—rambayapâ—â—â— that is in our Language the end of Warre right ouer against this point you shall see a great Iland at the comming in of this Harbour you need not feare for hard by the shore you shall haue twâ—ntâ—â— fathome wateâ— When you are in the mouth of this Harbour right before you shall see a whiâ—e Rocke which will lie full West from you you must leaue the Iland Southward from you then shall you descrie another great Iland called Epâ—oya at a point of this Iland that lieth full West towards the firme Land you shall see two small Ilands and when you are right against those two Ilands you shall see a faire Bay where you may anchor at pleasure to come into this Bay you must enter between those two Ilands that I haue spoken of I doe describe this Harbour vnto you aboue many good Harbours that you may find because you may depart from hence with any wind for the mouth of Marambaya lieth Soâ—th-eaâ—â—â—rom you when you are in this Harbour then you haue another going out that lieth North-east from you from this Port where you shall anchor called Epeoya If you want victuals for your ships you may take your Boat or your Pâ—nnâ—sse and goe out betweene the two Ilands that you entred and when you are betweene those Ilands you shall see a flat broad Iland which will lye fâ—â—t South-west from you this Iland the Indians called Sâ—peawera that is the morning and this is the Iland that I was driuen vpon when I runne away to Master Hawkins as I haue told you in the discourse of my troubles you must come with your Boat to this Iland and you must be sure to passe betweene the West shore and the Iland and assoone as you haue passed the point of this Iland you shall see three Hils of red Earth one hard by another You must leaue one of them West from you then may you land your men at pleasure when you haue landed you must goe through a little Copps for the spâ—â—e of a Harquebusse shot then shall you come into a faire Lawne where you shall find great store of Cattle and a house or two that standeth vpon a Hiâ—l where you shall haue alwayes good store of Câ—ssaâ—i meale if you will haue Rootes and Plantonâ— vpon the Iland where you anchor there are good store but there is an Iland called the Long Iland where you shall
wee were aware and there split our Boat to the middest and all our men were turned out saue my selfe which held the helme thinking the next waue would set her off againe not knowing her to be split But the breach was so great that it turned me vnder putting me in great danger to be grinded to pieces with her weight lying vpon me against the great Rocks yet at the last wee all recouered our selues some sitting vpon the Rocks others on the rootes of great Trees thinking there to saue our selues vntill the morning William Picks and my selfe went and haled the Boat on shoare which was split to the very middest and so farre with our Swords we cut off and put in an head in the middest and fastened it with our Daggers Kniues and Bodkins stopping all the leakes with our shirts and sent fiue of our companie ouer to the mayne land which were Miles Pet William Picks Francis Brace William Kettleby and William Butcher They haled their Boat foure or fiue dayes along the shoare crossing diuers Riuers with their Boat being sometimes pursued by Alligatos or Crocodiles and Sharkes God pittying their poore estate guided them to a place where they found a great earthen Iarre full of wheat flower set in a little Caue which they boyled in the Iarre with fresh water and satisfied their hungrie appetites with thanks vnto God for the same And within two dayes after they met with three Spaniards with halfe a dosen Indians and Negroes trauelling from Caracas to Coro driuing Horses and Mules laden with merchandise who seeing their weaknesse for want of victuals vnloded their Horses to feede on the grasse while they refreshed our hungrie men with plentie of their good cheere and shewed themselues very courteous suffering them to ride and went themselues on foot two or three dayes till they came to a Towne of ciuill Indians called Tocoya where they stayed to refresh them for they were very weake And there they let the Spaniards know in what miserable case they left vs in a desolate Iland where we endured the greatest miserie that euer men did with life For wee continued fifteene dayes hauing no kinde of meat but Wilks falt Water and Tabacco which did nothing at all nourish vs yet neuerthelesse it tooke away the desire of hunger and saued vs from eating one another In those fifteene dayes fiue of our companie pined to death because they could not take Tabacco Iohn Parkins Edward Greene Thomas Siubbes Andrew Swash and an old man called Iohn By noting two or three of our men to die we knew by those tokens when we drew neere our death which were these first they would swell very bigge and shortly after fall to the very bones and wanting strength to hold vp their heads they would fall downe and droope into their bosomes and in twelue houres after yeeld vp the Ghost At the fifteene dayes end Francis Brace hauing more strength then the rest guided the three Spaniards with sixe Indians to the Iland where we were and they brought victuals with them which when we had eaten had almost killed vs by reason of the weaknesse of our stomacks being so farre spent that we could not digest it although we fed thereof very sparingly The next day they carried vs to the mayne land where wee had horses brought vs to carry vs and the goods wee had they tooke all to the King of Spaines vse and so conueyed vs to Tocoya where wee which were weake remayned fifteene dayes and those which were strong went with the three Spaniards to Coro which is some fiftie leagues from Tocoya and at the fifteene dayes end one of the Spaniards whose name was Sennor Coraianal came for vs with horses who shewed himselfe as carefull of vs as if we had beene his owne Countrimen and friends and brought vs to Coro to our fellowes where we were brought before the Gouernour and by a Flemming which could speake a little English which had beene a prisoner there sixteene yeeres we were examined of the cause of our comming thither who excused vs very well For hee knew that if we had confessed whether we were determined to goe they would haue either put vs to death or condemned vs to the Gallies But he told them that we neuer purposed to come thither but were by misfortune and tempest of winde and weather driuen on that Coast and told them of all the dangers which we had endured which draue them into such great admiration that some said verily wee were Deuils and not Men others that we deserued to bee canonized but that wee were Lutherans All the chiefe Sennors of the Towne beeing there euery man was desirous to take one of vs. After we were deuided among them they did not vse vs like prisoners but were as carefull of vs as of their owne children not suffering vs to want any thing necessarie for the procuring of our healths My lot fell out to bee entertained by one whose name was Sentor Francisco Lopez and being extreamely sicke of a Calenture or hot Feuer one Captaine Peroso which had married his daughter hauing good skill in Phisicke came daily to my Chamber and there let me bloud dieted me and purged me giuing his owne Wife in charge not to let me want any thing that was there to be had Thus by the will of God and their tender care ouer vs wee recouered our healths and strengths againe only two dyed there which were Thomas Fletcher and Fulke Iones a shoomaker In Coro eleuen of vs remayned aliue being all that were left of sixtie seuen which were put on shore in the Iland of Santa Luzia for the space of fiue moneths euery day going to one another when wee pleased and wee rid often into the Countrey where the Indians tooke great delight in our company For against our comming they would prouide all kind of delicious fruits which were in most abundance in that Countrey and would kill Deere and wild Hogs for vs and would bring vs Apes Monkeyes Parrots and any thing that they thought wee delighted in The Countrey about Coro doth yeeld abundance of Sugar Honey Ginger and Pitch Also they haue very good Wheate growing there but the bread is for the most part made of Maiz whereof they haue great plentie for they reape it three times in one yeere This Maiz they do mingle with the iuyce of the Sugar-cane which maketh an excellent kinde of bread and it will keepe like Bisket Also they make their drinke of this Maiz and of Potatoes which is very sweet and strong for the Indians will be quickly drunke with it While we were there a Spaniard rode to a Farme of his in the Countrey with his brother where he had many Indians dwelling to make Tabacco One of his chiefe Indians which vsed to be familiar with him tooke vp a new Hatchet which his Master had brought him asking him
and twentieth in the height of Farnambuca but some fourescore leagues from the Coast the twentie foure in the height of Bayea de Todos Santos neere the end of October betwixt seuenteene and eighteene degrees wee were in sixteene fathomes sounding of the great Scoles which lye alongst the Coast betwixt the Bay of Todos Santos and the Port of Santos alias nuestra sâ—nora de Vitoria which are very perillous But the diuine Prouidence hath ordained great flockes of small Birds like Snites to liue vpon the Rockes and broken lands of these Sholes which are met with ordinarily twentie leagues before a man come in danger of them It shall not be amisse here to recount the Accidents which befell vs during this contrary wind and the curiosities to be obserued in all this time Day and night we had continually a faire gale of wind and a smooth Sea without any alteration one day the Carpenters hauing Calked the Decke of our ship which the Sunne with his extreame heate had opened craued license to heate a little Pitch in the Cooke roome which I would not consent vnto by any meanes for that my Cooke roomes were vnder the Decke knowing the danger vntill the Master vndertooke that no danger should come thereof But hee recommended the charge to another who had a better name then experience He suffered the Pitch to rise and to runne into the fire which caused so furious a flame as amazed him and forced all to flee his heate one of my company with a double paire of Gloues tooke off the Pitch-pot but the fire forced him to let flip his hold-fast before he could set it on the Hearth and so ouerturned it and as the Pitch began to runne so the fire to enlarge it selfe that in a moment a great part of the ship was on a light fire I being in my Cabbin presently imagined what the matter was and for all the haste I could make before I came the fire was aboue the Decke for remedie whereof I commanded all my company to cast their Rugge Gownes into the Sea with Ropes fastened vnto them These I had prouided for my people to watch in for in many hot Countreyes the nights are fresh and cold and deuided one Gowne to two men a Starboord and a Larboord man so that hee which watched had euer the Gowne for they which watched not were either in their Cabbins or vnder the Decke and so needed them not The Gownes being well soaked euery man that could took one and assaulted the fire and although some were sindged others scalded and many burned God was pleased that the fire was quenched which I thought impossible and doubtlesse I neuer saw my selfe in greater perill in all the dayes of my life Let all men take example by vs not to suffer in any case Pitch to be heate in the ship except it be with a shot heate in the fire which cannot breed danger nor to permit fire to be kindled but vpon meere necessitie for the inconuenience thereof is for the most part remedilesse Great care is to be had also in cleaning of Wood in Hooping or Scutling of Caske and in any businesse where violence is to be vsed with Instruments of Iron Steele or Stone and especially in opening of Powder these are not to be vsed but Mallets of Wood for many mischances happen beyond all expectation I haue beene credibly enformed by diuers persons that comming out of the Indies with Scutling a But of water the water hath taken fire and flamed vp and put all in hazard And a Seruant of mine Thomas Gray told me that in the ship wherein he came out of the Indies Anno 1600. there happened the like and that if with Mantles they had not smoothered the fire they had beene all burned with a Pipe of Water which in Scutling tooke fire Master Iohn Hazlelocke reported that in the Arsenall of Venice happened the like he being present For mine owne part I am of opinion that some waters haue this propertie and especially such as haue their passage by Mines of Brimstone or other Minerals which as all men know giue extraordinary properties vnto the waters which runne by them Or it may be that the water being in Wine Caske and kept close may retaine an extraordinary propertie of the Wine Yea I haue drunke Fountaine and Riuer waters many times which haue had a fauour as that of B 〈…〉 stone Three leagues from Bayon in France I haue prooued of a Fountaine that hath this sauour and 〈◊〉 medicinable for many Diseases In the South Sea in a Riuer some fiue leagues from Cape 〈◊〉 Francisco in one degree and an halfe to the Northwards of the Line in the Bay of Atacames is a Riuer of fresh water which hath the like sauour We had no small cause to giue God thankes and tooke an occasion hereby to banish swearing out of our ships which amongst the common sort of Mariners and Sea-faring men is too ordinarily abused So with a generall consent of all our company it was ordained that in euery shippe there should be a Palmer or Ferula which should be in the keeping of him who was taken with an Oath and that hee who had the Palmer should giue to euery other that hee tooke swearing in the Palme of the hand a Palmada with it and the Ferula And whosoeuer at the time of Euening or Morning Prayer was found to haue the Palmer should haue three blowes giuen him by the Captaine or Master and that he should be still bound to free himselfe by taking another or else to runne in danger of continuing the penaltie which executed few dayes reformed the Vice so that in three dayes together was not one Oath heard to be sworne This brought both Ferulaes and swearing out of vse Ordinarily such ships as Nauigate betweene the Tropickes are accompanied with three sorts of fish The Dolphin which the Spaniards call Dozado the Bonito or Spanish Makeâ—ill and the Sharke alias Tiberune The Dolphin I hold to be one of the swiftest fishes in the Sea He is like vnto a Breame but that he is longer and thinner and his scales very small Hee is of the colour of the Rain-bow and his head different to other fishes for from his mouth halfe a span it goeth straite vpright as the head of a Wherry or the Cut-water of a ship He is very good meate if he be in season but the best part of him is his head which is great They are some bigger some lesser the greatest that I haue seene might be some foure foot long I hold it not without some ground that the ancient Philosophers write that they bee enamoured of a man for in meeting with shipping they accompany them till they approach to cold Climates this I haue noted diners times For disembarking out of the West Indies Anno 1583. within three or foure dayes after we met a Scole of them which
was as greene as any Medow in the moneth of Aprill with a most fine short grasse The flesh of these Pengwins is much of the sauour of a certaine Fowle taken in the Ilands of Lundey and Silley which we call Puffins by the taste it is easily discerned that they feed on fish They are very fat and in dressing must be flead as the Byter they are reasonable meate rosted baked or sodden but best rosted We salted some doozen or sixteene Hogsheads which serued vs whilest they lasted insteed of powdred Beefe The hunting of them as wee may well terme it was a great recreation to my company and worth the sight for in determining to catch them necessarily was required good store of people euery one with a cudgell in his hand to compasse them round about to bring them as it were into a Ring if they chanced to breake out then was the sport for the ground beeing vndermined at vnawares it failed and as they ranne after them one fell here another there another offering to strike at one lifting vp his hand sunke vp to the arme-pits in the earth another leaping to auoid one hole fell into another And after the first slaughter in seeing vs on the shoare they shunned vs and procured to recouer the Sea yea many times seeing themselues persecuted they would tumble downe from such high Rocks and Mountaines as it seemed impossible to escape with life Yet as soone as they came to the Beach presently we should see them runne into the Sea as though they had no hurt Where one goeth the other followeth like sheepe after the Bel-weather but in getting them once within the Ring close together few escaped saue such as by chance hid themselues in the borrowes and ordinarily there was no Droue which yeelded vs not a thousand and more the manner of killing them which the Hunters vsed beeing in a cluster together was with their cudgels to knocke them on the head for though a man gaue them many blowes on the body they dyed not Besides the flesh bruized is not good to keepe The massacre ended presently they cut of their heads that they might bleed well such as we determined to keepe for store we saued in this manner First wee split them and then washed them well in Sea-water then salted them hauing laine some sixe houres in Salt we put them in presse eight houres and the bloud being soaked out wee salted them againe in our other caske as is the custome to salt Beefe after this manner they continued good some two moneths and serued vs in steed of Beefe The Guls and Gannets were not in so great quantitie yet we wanted not young Guls to eate all the time of our stay about these Ilands It was one of the delicatest foods that I haue eaten in all my life The Duckes are different to ours and nothing so good meate yet they may serue for necessitie They were many and had a part of the Iland to themselues seuerall which was the highest Hill and more then a Musket shot ouer In all the dayes of my life I haue not seene greater arte and curiositie in creatures voide of reason then in the placing and making of their Nests all the Hill being so full of them that the greatest Mathematician of the World could not deuise how to place one more then there was vpon the Hill leauing onely one path-way for a Fowle to passe betwixt The Hill was all leuell as if it had beene smoothed by arte the Nests made onely of earth and seeming to be of the selfe-same mould for the Nests and the soile is all one which with water that they bring in their Beakes they make into Clay or a certaine dawbe and after fashion them round as with a compasse In the bottome they containe the measure of a foot in the height about eight inches and in the top the same quantitie ouer there they are hollowed in somwhat deep wherein they lay their Egges without other preuention And I am of opinion that the Sun helpeth them to hatch their young their Nests are for many yeares and of one proportion not one exceeding another in bignesse in height nor circumference and in proportionable distance one from another In all this Hill nor in any of their Nests was to be found a blade of grasse a straw a sticke a feather a moat no nor the filing of any Fowle but all the Nests and passages betwixt them were so smooth and cleane as if they had bin newly swept washed One day hauing ended our hunting of Pengwins one of our Mariners walking about the Iland discouered a great company of Seales or Sea-wolues so called for that they are in the Sea as the Wolues on the Land aduising vs that he left them sleeping with their bellies toasting against the Sunne we prouided our selues with staues and other weapons and sought to steale vpon them at vnawares to surprize some of them and comming downe the side of a Hill we were not discouered till wee were close vpon them notwithstanding their Sentinell before wee could approach with a great howle waked them we got betwixt the Sea and some of them but they shunned vs not for they came directly vpon vs and though we dealt heere and there a blow yet not a man that withstood them escaped the ouerthrow They reckon not of a Musket shot a sword pierceth not theirskinne and to giue a blowe with a staffe is as to smite vpon a stone only in giuing the blowe vpon his snout presently he falleth downe dead After they had recouered the water they did as it were scorne vs defie vs and daunced before vs vntill we had shot some Musket shot through them and so they appeared no more This fish is like vnto a Calfe with foure legs but not aboue a spanne long his skinne is hairy like a Calte but these were different to all that euer I haue seene yet I haue seēne of them in many parts for these wee greater and in their former parts like vnto Lions with shagge haire and mostaches They liue in the Sea and come to sheepe on the Land and they euer haue one that watcheth who aduiseth them of any accident They are beneficiall to man in their skinnes for many purposes In their mostaches for Pick-tooths and in their fatte to make Traine-oyle Wee embarqued our selues and set sayle with the winde at NOrth-west which could serue vs but to an end of that reach some dozen leagues long and some three or foure leagues broad It lieth next of any thing till you come to Cape Agreda south-South-west from this Cape to Cape Froward the coast lieth West South-west Some foure leagues betwixt them was the second peopling of the Spaniards and this Cape lieth in 55. degrees and better Thwart Cape Froward the winde larged with vs and we continued our course towards the Iland of Elizabeth which lieth from
Cape Forward some foureteene leages West and by South This reach is foure or fiue leagues broad and in it are many channels or openings into the Sea for all the land on the Souther part of the Straites are Ilands and broken land and from the beginning of this reach to the end of the Straits high mountainous Land on both sides in most parts couered with Snowe all the yeere long Betwixt the Iland Elizabeth and the Maine is the narrowest passage of all the Sraites it may be some two Musket shor from side to side From this Straite to Elizabeth Bay is some-foure leagues and the course lieth North-west and by West This Bay is all sandie and cleane ground on the Easterne pâ—rt but before youcome at it there lieth a point of the shoare a good birth off which is dangerous And in this reach as in many parts of the Straites runneth a quicke and forcible tide In the Bay it higheth eight or nine foot water The Northerne part of the Bay hath foule ground and Rockes vnder water and therefore it is not wholsome borrowing of the Maine One of Master Thomas Candish his Pinasses as I haue been enformed came aground vpon one of them and he was in hazard to haue left her there From Elizabeth Bay ot the Riuer of Ieronimâ— is some fiue leagues The course lieth West and by North and West Here the winde scanted and forced vs to seeke a place to anchor in Our Boats going alongst the shoare found a reasonable Harbour which is right against that which they call Riuer Ierâ—â—imâ— but it is another channell by which a man may dissembâ—que the Straite as by the other which is accustomed for with a storme which tooke vs one night suddenly wee were forced into that opening vn wittingly but to the morning seing our errour and the winde larging with two or three boords we turned into the old channell nor daring for want of our Pinasse to attempt any new Discouerie This Harbour wee called Blanches Bay for that it was found by William Blanch one of our Masters Mates Here hauing moored our ship we beganne to make our prouision of wood and water whereof was plentie in this Bay and in all other places from Pengwin Ilands till within a dozen leagues of the mouth of the Straites NOw finding our DeckeÌ„s open with the long lying vnder the Line and on the coast of Brasill the Sunne hauing beene in our Zenith many times we calked our ship within boord and without aboue the Deckes And such was the diligence wee vsed that at foure dayes end wee had aboue threescore Pipes of water and twentie Boats of wood stowed in our ship no man was idle nor otherwise busied but in necessarie workes some in felling and cleaning of wood some in carrying of water some in romaging somein washing others in baking one in heiting of Pitch another in gathering of Mussels no man was exempted but knew at euening whereunto he was to betake himselfe the morning following Some man might aske mee how wee came to haue so many emptie Caske in lesse then two moneths for it seemeth much that so few men in such short time and in so long a Voyage should waste so much Whereto I answere that it came not of excessieu expense for in health we neuer exceeded our ordinarie but of a mischance which befell vs vnknowne in the Iland of Saint Iames or Saint Anne in the coast of Brasill where where wee refreshed our selues and recording to the custome laid our Caske ashoare to trimme it and afters to fill it the place being commodious forvs But with the waer a certaine worme called Broma by the Spannard and â—yvs Aters entred also which eate it so fuli of holes that all the waer spaked out and made much of our Caske of small vse This we remedied the best wee could and discouered it long before we came to this place Hereof let others take warning in no place to haue Caske on the shoare where it may be anoyded for it is one of the promisions which are with greatest care to be preserued in long Voyages and bardest to be supplied These Arters or B oma in all hot Countries enter into the plankes of ships and effeciast where are Ruers of fresh water the common opinion is that they are bred in fresh water and with the current of the Riners are brought into the Sea but experience teacheth that they breede in the great Seas in all hot chimates especially neere the Equinoctiall Line for lying so long vnder and neere the Line and towing a Shalop at our sterne comming to cleanse her in Brasill wee found her all vnder water couered with these Wormes as bigge as the little singer of a man on the outside of the planke not fully couered but halfe the thicknesse of their bodie like to a gellie wrought into the planke as with a Gowdge In little time if the ship be not sheathed they put all in hazard for they enter in no bigger then a small spanish Needle and by little and little their holes become ordinarily greater then a mans finger The thicker the planke is the greater he groweth yea I haue seene many ships so eaten that the most of their plankes vnder water haue beene like Honie-combes and especially those betwixt winde and water If they had not beene sheathed it had beene impossible that they could haue swomme The entring of them is hardly to be discerned the most of them being small as the head of a Pinne Which all such as purpose long Voyages are to prenent byu sheathing their ships And for that I haue seene diuers manners of sheathing for the ignorant I will set them downe which by experience I haue found best In Spaine and Portugall some sheath their ships with Lead which besides the cost and weight although they vse the thinnest sheet-lead that I haue seene in any place yet it is nothing durable but subiect to many casualities Another manner is vsed with double plankes as thicke without as within after the manner of surring which is little better then that with Lead for besides his weight it dureth little because the Worme in small time passeth through the one and the other A third manner of sheathing had beene vsed amongst some with fine Canuas which is of small continuance and so not to be regarded The fourth preuention which now is most accounted of is to burne the vpper planke till it come to be in euery place like a Cole and after to pitch it this isnot bad in China as I haue beene enformed they vse a certaine Betane or Varnish in manner of an artificiall Pitch wherewith they trimme the outside of their ships It is said to bee durable and of that vertue as neither worme nor water pierceth it neither hath the Sunne power against it Some haue deuised a certaine Pitch mingled with Glasse and other ingredients beaten into
women and performe the office of a woman they carry no Bowes but beare very great and waightie burdens and among them we saw many such effeminate persons as I haue said and they are of greater lims and taller then the other men After we departed from them whom wee left lamenting wee were with the other at their houses and were very well intertained of them who brought vs their children that wee should touch their hands and so they gaue vs much Meale of Mesquiquez These Mesquiquez are certaine Fruits which when they are on the Tree are very bitter and are of the same sort that the Carobe are and they eate them with the earth and with it they are very sweet and good to eat The manner how they prepare them is this they make a Trench in the Earth of what depth they please and after they haue cast the fruit into this Trench they bruize and breake them very well with a piece of wood as great as a mans legge and three Cubits long and after they are mingled with the earth of the Trench they take other that are sitted and put them into the said Trench and returne to bruize them a little more and after put them into a vessell like vnto a basket and cast so much water thereon as is sufficient to couer it that the water may rise to the top and hee that hath bruized them tasteth them in his mouth and if hee thinke they be not sweet and pleasant he demandeth earth and mingleth it therewith And this he doth vntill he find it sweet and so afterward they prepare themselues to sit round and euery one putteth in his hand and taketh as much as he can and the seeds or kernels of those Fruits and so the huskes they cast vpon certaine hides and he that hath bruised them gathereth them together and returneth afterward to put them all in a basket and casteth water vpon them as at the first and so they returne to wring out the iuyce and water so long as it will drop And likewise they returne to put the seedes and huskes vpon the hide and so in this manner they doe three or foure times fer euerie bruising and they that are found at this banquet which because it is verie great remaine with their bellies much puffed vp through the earth and water which they drinke and of this the Indians made vs many great feasts and vsed much dancing and iollitie among themselues for so long time as we staied there And when we slept in the night sixe men watched with great diligence and care at the doore of the cottage where we abode not ceasing to come in vnto some of vs till the Sunne arose And when we would depart from them certaine women of other people who liued further beyond came thither and being informed by them where their houses were wee departed towards those parts although they earnestly entreated vs that we would not depart for that day because those houses were very farre from thence and that there was no way to goe thither and that the women who came were weary but resting themselues vnto the next day they would afterwards goe with vs and conduct vs thither But we dispatched our selues thence and went away and a little after those women who came thither with certaine others of the former Indians came after vs but there being no beaten way nor path we presently lost our selues and so went foure leagues at the end whereof we came to drinke at a water where wee found the women that followed vs who told vs what great paines and trauaile they had taken to finde vs. Departing thence and bringing those women for our guides wee passed a Riuer somewhat late and the water tooke vs vp to the brest and might be as broad as that of Siuill and it ranne very strongly And at the setting of the Sunne we came to an hundred houses of the Indians who before we came went all forth to receiue vs with so vehement shouting and loud exclamation that it was a fearefull thing and gaue great blowes with their hands vpon their thighes and brought hollow guords with stones within them which is the instrument of their greatest iollitie sport and neuer vse them but for their dancings and for medicine and none dare to take them in his hand but they And they say that these guords haue vertue and come from heauen because they grow not in those Countries nor doe they know from whence they come vnlesse the Riuers bring them when they ouerflow And the feare and confusion of them was so great that striuing to come neerest vnto vs and touch vs they so thrunged vs that it was a wonder that they had not killed vs and not suffering vs to set our feete on the ground they carried vs vnto their houses and bare vs so aboue ground and the presse of people so thrunged vs that we entred into the houses which they had prepared for vs and would not consent that they should make their festiuall sports any more with vs for that night They passed all that night among themselues in sports and dancing and the day following at a good houre they brought vs before all the people of that place that we might touch and blesse them as we had done to the rest with whom we abode And after this they gaue many arrowes to the women of another people who were come with them The next day we departed thence and all that people went with vs. And when we came to the other Indians we were very well entertained as of the other and they gaue vs such as they had and Deere which they had killed that day Among these Indians we saw a new custome to wit that they who were first with vs tooke the Bowes Arrowes Shooes and Crownes if they had any from them who came to vs to be healed and after they had thus taken them away from them they brought them before vs that we should heale them and being healed that we should haue them so they departed verie well contented and said that they were whole After this we departed from them and went vnto other of whom we were verie courteously receiued and they brought vs their diseased persons who when we had blessed them said they were cured and he that was not whole beleeued that we could cure him for that which others told them whom we had healed they made such great sport and dancing that they suffered vs not to sleepe Departing from them we went where many other houses were and where another new custome began to wit that entertaining euery one of vs very well they who came with vs tooke all their substance from them and rifled their houses without leauing them any kinde of thing which displeased vs verie much seeing them so ill vsed who so curteously receiued vs and also fearing that least this might be the occasion of some alteration or offence
among them But not being able to remedy the same and chastise those that did it wee were then to suffer it vntill we saw we had more authoritie among them And so euen they themselues who lost their wealth seeing we were displeased comforted vs saying that we should not conceiue any displeasure thereat considering they were so well contented that they had seene vs and that they had bestowed their substance very well and would hereafter be paid of others who were exceeding rich The next day they brought all their people before vs the greatest part whereof are squint-eyed and other of the same people are blinde whereat we greatly maruelled they are well set and of good behauiour and whiter then all the rest that we had seene vntill then There we began to see Mountaines which seemed to extend themselues towards the Sea from the North and by the relaâ—â—â—n which the Indians made I suppose they are fifteene leagues from the Sea We departed thence with those Indians towards the Mountaines whereof I now spake And they brought vs where some of their kindred were for they would not bring vs but to their kinsfolk because they were vnwilling that their enemies should receiue so great a benefit as they thought it was to see vs. And when wee were come thither they that came with vs spoiled the other who knowing the custome had hid certaine things before we came thither And after they had receiued vs with much ioy and gladnesse they tooke out that which they had hidden and presented it vnto vs and they were Crownes Magra and certaine small plates of Siluer We according to our custome gaue them all presently to the Indians that came with vs and hauing giuen vs that which they had they began their dancing and festiuall iollitie and sent to call other people neere thereabouts that they might come to see vs who came all about the euening and brought vs Garlands Bowes and other trifling things which for the most part we diuided among those other Indians And the day following we being desirous to depart they would all bring vs to their friends who remained on the top of the Mountaines laying that there are many houses and people that they would giue vs many things but because it was out of our way we would not goe thither and therefore tooke our iourney through the plaine neere vnto the Mountaines which we supposed should not be very farre from the coast All those people are very poore and miserable wherefore we held it better to crosse ouer the land because the people that dwelt further into the Countrey were better conditioned and would vse vs better and we werâ— certainely perswaded that we should finde a more populous Countrey and of better sustenance And lastly we therefore did it because crossing ouer the land we saw more particularities so that if it should please our Lord God to bring some of vs out of that Countrey and to conduct vs into the land of the Christians wee might be able to make relation and report thereof The Indians seeing that we were determined to goe whither they would not told vs that there was neither people nor Tune nor any other thing to eate and therefore praied vs that we would stay there for that day and so we did Then they sent two Indians to discouer the people that way which we purposed to goe and the next day we departed carrying many of them with vs and the women went laden with water and our authoritie was so great among them that none durst presume to drinke without our leaue Two of their Phisicians gaue vs two Gourds and from that time we afterward began to carry Gourds with vs ioyning this ceremony to our authority which among them is very great They who accompanied vs rifled the houses but the houses being many and they but few they could not carry all away but should haue bin forced to haue lost the halfe and so we went thence through many Mountaines entring within the land more then fiftie leagues at the end whereof we found fortie houses and among other things which they gaue vs Andrea Dorante had a thicke and great Bell of copper with a visage ingrauen in it which they seemed greatly to esteeme saying that they had gotten it of their other neighbours who being demanded whence they had it they said that they brought it from the Northward and that it was much worth and greatly esteemed there Whereupon we knew that from what place soeuer it came the art of casting and melting of mettals must needes be there And hereupon we departed the day following and crossed ouer a Mountaine of six leagues and the stones which were there were of the scumme of Iron and late in the euening we came to many houses seated on the side of a most pleasant Riuer and the Lords of the same came into the middle of the high way to receiue vs with their children in their armes and gaue vs many small plates of Siluer and Antimonie made in powder wherewith they annoint their faces and gaue vs many garlands and many mantles of the hides of Kine and laded all them that came with vs with such as they had they eate Tune and Pine apples They told vs that in the place where the Bell was made were many plates of that mettall vnder ground and that that Bell among them was a thing greatly esteemed and that houses were built there and wee supposed that it was the South Sea for we alwayes knew that that Sea was alwayes richer then that of the North. So we departed from them and went through so many sorts of Nations and diuers languages that the memory of man is not able to reckon them and one people alwayes spoyled the other and so both they that lost and they who gained remained well contented Through those Valleyes where we passed euery one of them carried a sticke or cudgell of three handfuls long and they went all in troopes and if any Hare arose whereof there are many in that Countrey they turned her suddenly and so many cudgels fell vpon her that it was a marueilous matter to behold and in this manner they made her goe from one to another so that in my iudgement it was the goodliest hunting that could be imagined because sometimes they came euen into their hands And when wee setled our selues at night we had so many of them that were giuen vs that euery one of vs carried eight or ten and such as carried Bowes appeared not among vs but went apart through the Mountaines to seeke deere and when they came in the euening they brought fiue or six for euery one of vs and many Fowles and Quailes and other hunting game and finally whatsoeuer all those people tooke they presented before vs not daring to touch or take thereof for themselues although they should dye for hunger because they accustomed so to doe since they came with
vs vnlesse they had first blessed the same The women carried many Mats with the which they made houses for vs to euery one apart his seuerall house and with all the people which hee knew When that was done wee commanded them to bake those Deere and Hares and whatsoeuer else they had taken which is very quickly done in certaine ouens which they make for the same purpose Then we first tooke a little of euery thing and gaue the rest to the principall and chiefe men of the people to diuide it among them all and when euery one had receiued his part they came vnto vs that we should blow vpon it and blesse it for otherwise they durst not presume to eate thereof And many times we brought with vs three or foure thousand persons whereupon it was a great trouble to vs to blow vpon and blesse the meate and drinke of euery one of them and for euery other thing of theâ—rs which they would doe they came to vs to aske leaue whereby it may be considered how great the incumbrance and trouble was which wee endured The women brought before vs the Tune Frogs Wormes and whatsoeuer else they could get because although they should bee readie to die through hunger they would not haue eaten any thing which they had not receiued from our hands And so going with them wee passed ouer a great Riuer which came from the North parts and hauing trauelled ouer certaine Plaines of thirtie leagues wee found many people who came very farre off to receiue vs and came forth vnto the way whether wee were to passe and receiued vs after the same manner that the other had done From thence forward they obserued another manner of receiuing vs as touching saccage and spoiling For they that came forth into the high-way to bring vs any thing were not spoiled of them who came with vs but after we were entred into their houses they of their owne accord offered vs whatsoeuer they had and the houses also Wee gaue all vnto the chiefe and principall to the intent that they should diuide it among them and alwaies they who remained so spoiled followed vs whereby the number of people greatly encreased through desire to bee satisfied of their losses And they said vnto the rest that they should beware how they hide any thing because it could not be but we should know it and cause them all suddenly to die The feare and frighting wherein they put them were so great that the first daâ—es they abode with vs they stood alwaies trembling not presuming to speake nor to lift vp their eyes to heauen They guided vs aboue eightie leagues through a desert Countrey and very rough mountaines which were so dry that there was no hunting game there whereby to sustaine our great hunger In the end hauing passed ouer a very great Riuer where the water tooke vp to the brest many of those who came with vs began to lament through the exceeding great hunger and trauell which they had endured through those mountaines which were extreame rough and trouble some to passe The same people brought vs vnto certaine plaines and at the end of those mountaines much people came farre off to receiue vs as the former had done and gaue so many garments afterward to them that were with vs that because they could not carry them they left the halfe behinde them so that we told those Indians that brought them that they should take them againe that they might not be lost who answered that they would not doe it for any thing because it was not their custome after they had once giuen a thing to returne afterward to take it againe and so they suffered them to be lost Then we told them that we would goe toward the place where the Sunne went downe who said that in those places the people were verie farre off But wee commanded them to send to vnderstand that wee were comming yet they excused themselues the best they could saying that they were their enemies and that they were vnwilling we should goe thither but not daring to doe contrarie to our will they sent two women thither whom both the one and the other their enemies kept prisoners And they sent these because the women may well negotiate with the men euen in the warres and we followed them and rested our selues in a place where wee determined to expect them but they staied fiue daies before they returned and the Indians said that they should find no people Wee told them that they should bring vs toward the North whereupon they gaue vs the same answere that is to say that in those places there were no people but farre off and that there was nothing there to eate nor water to bee found yet notwithstanding all this we continued obstinate and said that we would goe thither although they alwaies excused themselues the best they could and for this cause wee were angrie so that one night I arose and went out to sleepe in the open fields apart from them but they came presently where I was and neuer slept all that night with much feare and speaking vnto me they said that if we would not continue any longer angrie they would bring vs whether we purposed to goe although they were certainly assured to die by the way Neuerthelesse wee alwaies fained that we were yet angrie and because their feare was not remoued a verie strange accident happened that is to say that on the verie same day many of them became sicke and the day following eight of them died Whereupon through all the Countrey where it was knowne they were so afraid of vs that when they saw vs they seemed euen to die as it were for feare So they besought vs that wee would not continue angrie any longer and that wee would not cause any more of them to die certainly perswading themselues that wee killed them onely with our will and desire We prayed our Lord God that hee would relieue vs and so all those that were sicke began to recouer at which time wee saw a verie maruellous thing to wit that the fathers brethren and wiues of them that died were exceedingly grieued to see them so sicke but after they wEre dead they shewed not any signe or token of sorrow nor did wee see them lament nor speake one to the other nor make any other signe nor durst they come neere vnto them vntill we commanded them to burie them And for the space of fifteene daies and more that we abode with them we neuer saw one speake to the other nor any of their little children either laughed or cried and if any of them lamented they carried them verie farre from thence and with verie sharpe teeth they gashed and cut them from the shoulders to the legs so seeing their crueltie and being angrie thereat I demanded why they did it they answered me that they did it to chastise them for lamenting
before me Al these fears which they haue of vs they yet put into the heads of those who came lately to know vs because they should giue vs whatsoeuer they haue for they know that we tooke nothing for our selues but gaue euerie thing to them This was the most obedient people and best conditioned that we found in all that Countrie and commonly they are well disposed Those that were sicke being recouered and restored vnto health and wee hauing continued there three daies the women that we had sent came vnto vs and said that they had found verie few people because they were gone to the kine which was now their time Then we commanded them that were weake to remaine behinde and those that were well to come with vs and that two daies iourney from thence those two women should goe with two of our men to cause the people to come forth to the highwaies to receiue vs. And so the morning following all those that were the lustiest departed with vs and after three daies iourney wee setled our selues and the day following Alonso del Castiglio and Esteuanicco the Negro together with those two women for their guides and that who was their prisoner brought them vnto a Riuer which ranne within a mountaine where a people abode among whom their father was and these were the first houses that wee saw which had the forme and manner of true houses There Castiglio and Esteuanicco arriued and after they had spoken with those Indians at the end of three dayes Castiglio returned to the place where they left vs and brought fiue or sixe of those Indians and said That hee had found houses of people and of artificiall building and that the people eate pulse and gourds and that hee had seene Maiz there There wee abode one day and the next wee departed they bringing vs with them to other built houses where wee did eate of the same food that they eate And after from thenceforth there was another custome that they who knew of our comming came not forth into the high-way to meete vs as the other did but wee found them in their houses and they did nothing else for vs. And they were all sitting and all held their faces towards the wall hanging downe their heads with their haire ouer their eyes and all their clothes were hanged vp aloft in the middle of the house and from thence forward they began to giue vs many mantles of hides and they had not any thing which they gaue vs not It is a Nation of the best and goodliest proportion of bodie that euer wee saw there and of a more liuely spirit and agilitie and that vnderstood vs better and answered vs to whatsoeuer wee demanded them and wee call them The people of the Kine because the greater part of the Kine which dye in those Countries is neere thereabouts and vp that Riuer more then fiftie leagues they goe killing many These people goe all naked after the manner of those whom wee found first The women goe couered with certaine Deere skinnes and so doe some few men also and particularly the aged who are not seruiceable for the warres It is a verie populous Countrey and being demanded why it did not sowe Maiz they said They did it because they would not leese that which they should sowe for two yeeres since their water failed and the seasons was so dry that they all lost the Maiz that they had sowed and that they could not by any meanes be assured to sowe vnlesse first it had rained very much and they prayed vs to speake vnto the Heauens that they might send downe raine they boyle pulse in this manner They fill a great pot halfe full with water and put many of those stones in the fire which will quickely burne and when they seeth them on fire they take them vp with certaine tongs of Wood and cast them into that water in the gourd vntill they make it boyle with that fire of those stones and when they perceiue that the water boyleth they put in that which they haue to boyle and all this time they doe nothing else but take out one stone and put in another fired redde hot to make the water boyle §. IIII. They come to the South Sea and trauell through a plentifull Countrey till they meet with Spaniards whose crueltie and manner of conuerting Sauages is related WE went Westward on our iourny crossed ouer all the land vntil we came forth at the South Sea and the feare wherein they had put vs of the great famine which we were to passe as surely we passed it for seuenteen daies together as they had told vs was not able to diuert vs from our intended purpose Throughout all that Countrey vp the Riuer they gaue vs many Mantles of the hides of Kine and wee did not eate of those their fruites but our sustenance was euery day a piece of the fat of Deere of the bignesse of a mans hand which for this necessitie wee prouided alwaies to haue in a readinesse and so wee passed all those seuenteene daies iourney and at the end of them wee crossed ouer the Riuer and trauelled other seuenteene daies more to the West through certaine plaines and verie great mountaines which are found there and there wee met with a people who the third part of the yeere eate no other thing saue the powder of straw and because wee passed that way at that season of the yeere wee also were constrained to eate it vntill hauing finished those daies iourney wee found setled houses where there was great quantitie of Maiz and of that and Meale they gaue vs enough and Gourds and Pulse and Mantles of Bombasin Cotton withall which we laded them whom wee had hyred there who returned the most contented men in the world Wee yeelded many thankes vnto God who had brought vs thither where we found such plentie of sustenance Among these houses they had some that were of earth and all the rest were of mats and from thence wee passed more then an hundred leagues into the Countrey and alwaies found setled houses and much sustenance of Maiz and Pulse and they gaue vs many Deeres skinnes and Mantles of Bombasin Cotten better then those of New Spaine and gaue vs also many Garlands and certaine Corall which grow in the South Sea and many Turkie stones which come from toward the North. And finally they gaue vs whatsoeuer they had and vnto Dorante they gaue Emeralds made into Arrow heads and with those Arrowes they make their sports and festiuall iollitie seeming to mee very good I demanded of them whence they had them who told me that they brought them from certaine very high mountaines which lye towards the North and that they got them by exchange and barter for quills and Parrats feathers and there were many people there and very great houses Among them wee saw the women more honourably
contrary to that which the Christians doe And thus they answered the Christians in their language and did the like to others in a language which was among them which we vnderstood and those that vse it wee call Pringaitu which wee had found vsed for aboue the space of foure hundred leagues of the Countrey where we trauelled so that we found no other language for the space of foure hundred leagues and more Finally it was not possible for vs to make those Indians beleeue that we were any of those other Christians yet with much adoe and through our perswasion we made them returne vnto their houses commanding them to rest satisfied and bring backe their people to sowe and till the ground which because it was so desolate became now full of woods albeit of it owne nature surely it were the best Countrey and more fertile and abundant then any in all those Indies for they sowe three times in the yeare and haue many fruites and many goodly Riuers and other very good waters There are many signes and great tokens of Mines of Gold and Siluer The people are very well conditioned and serue the Christians that are their friends with a very good will they are much better disposed then the people of Mexico and finally it wanteth nothing to make it an absolute Countrey The Indians being dispatched they told vs that they would doe as much as they had commanded and bring backe their people if the Christians would suffer them to continue whereupon I said and certainely affirmed that if they did it not the Christians should be much to blame And after wee had sent them away the Christians sent vs with an Alcado named Zebrero and with him three other Christians whereby it appeareth how much the imaginations of men were deceiued in that we went to seeke liberty among the Christians and when wee had thought to haue found it the qâ—ite contrary befell vs and by seperating vs from the conuersation of the Indians they brought vs through desolate Mountaines because we should not see what they did nor their euill vsage for they had determined to goe to assault the Indians whom wee sent away secured and in peace and so they did as they imagined they brought vs two dayes through those Mountaines without water and without any beaten way or path insomuch as we thought we should haue burst for thirst whereof seuen of our men died many friends which the Christians brought with them could not come till the next day at noone where we found water and we trauailed with them about fiue and twenty leagues at the end whereof we came vnto a people of the Indians which were in peace and there the Alcado who brought vs left vs and went three leagues further to a people called Culiazzan where Melchior Diaz the Sergeant Maior and Captaine of that Prouince abode As soone as he knew of our comming hee presently came the same night to finde vs out and lamented much with vs highly praising our Lord God for his exceeding mercy towards vs and spake vnto vs and vsed vs very well and in the behalfe of the Gouernour Nunnez di Guzâ—an and himselfe offered vs whatsoeuer hee had or could procure and began to speake much of the euill vsage wherewith Alcaraz and the rest had vsed vs so that we held it for certaine that if hee had bin there that which was done vnto vs had not bin done and that night being passed we departed for Auhacan and the Sergeant Maior intreated vs earnestly to stay there and that wee might doe great seruâ—â—e vnto our Lord God and to your Maiestie because the Countrie was desolate without manuring and altogether destroyed and the Indians went and hid themselues flying through the Mountaines vnwilling to come and stay with their people and that we should send to call them and command them in the name of our Lord God and of your Maiesty to come and inhabit the Plain and till the Countrie But this seemed a troublesome matter vnto vs to put it in execution because wee had not any of our Indians or those who were wont to accompany vs to helpe and further vs in such like offices Notwithstanding we thought good to proue two of our Indians which we had prisoners there who were of the same Country and were found with the Christians when we first came among them and saw the people that accompanied vs vnderstood by them the great authority dominion which we had had throughout all those Countries the miraculous things which we had done in healing the diseased and many other things and with these we sent others of the same people which were also with them to call the Indians that abode in the Mountains those of the riuer Patachan where we had found the Christians And we willed them to tell them that they should come vnto vs because we would speake with them and so secure them that went and the other who should come we gaue them a great gourd of those which we caried in our hands which was a principall token and speciall argument of great state and with this they went and trauailed seuen daies and in the end came and brought with them three Lords of those who had fled into the Mountaines who were accompanied with fifteene men who brought vs Crownes Turkies and plumes of Feathers and the messengâ—â—â— told vs that they had not found them of the Riuer from whence we came because the Christians had caused them to flye into the Mountaines So Melchior Diaz willed the Interpreter to speake vnto those Indians in our behalfe and say vnto them that we were come from God who abideth in heauen and had tranailed through the world nine yeares saying vnto all them that we found that they should beleeue in God and serue him because he is Lord of all the things in the world and that he giueth a reward and paiment vnto the good and perpetuall punishment of hell fire vnto the wicked and that when the good men dye he taketh them vp into heauen where afterwards they shall neuer dye any more nor suffer hunger or cold or endure any other necessitie but finde there greater glory then can be imagined And they who will not beleeue nor obay him shall be throwne downe vnder the earth in the company of Diuels into an exceeding huge fire which neuer shall haue end but continually and eternally torment them And besides that if they will become Christians and serue God after the manner that we will tell them the Christians shall hold them for brethren and vse them very well and that we would command that they should not doe them any hurt nor take their Counyrie from them but become their good friends And if they would not doe it the Christians should vse them very cruelly and carry them for slaues into farre and remote Countries To this they answered the Interpreter that they would become very good
that if it were so it was in their owne hands to goe out of Florida if they found nothing of profit for they feared they should lose themselues in some wildernesse This Indian led him two dayes out of the way The Gouernour commanded to torture him He said that the Cacique of Nondacao his Lord commanded him to guide them so because they were his enemies and that he was to doe as his Lord commanded him The Gouernour commanded him to be cast to the dogs and another guided him to Soacatino whither he came the day following It was a very poore Country there was great want of Maiz in that place He asked the Indians whether they knew of any other Christians They said that a little from thence toward the South they heard they were He trauelled twentie dayes through a Country euill inhabited where they suffered great scarsitie and trouble For that little Maiz which the Indians had they had hidden and buried in the woods where the Christians after they were well wearied with trauell at the end of their iourney went to seeke by digging what they should eate At last comming to a Prouince that was called Guasco they found Maiz wherewith they loaded their horses and the Indians that they had The Indians told them there that ten daies journie from thence toward the West was a Riuer called Daycao whither they went sometimes a hunting and killing of Deere and that they had seene people on the other side but knew not what habitation was there There the Christians tooke such Maiz as they found and could carry and going ten daies iournie through a wildernesse they came to the Riuer which the Indians had told them of Ten horsemen which the Gouernour had sent before passed ouer the same and went in a way that led to the Riuer and lighted vpon a company of Indians that dwelt in very little cabins who as soone as they saw them tooke themselues to flight leauing that which they had all which was nothing but miserie and pouertie The Countrie was so poore that among them all there was not found halfe a pecke of Maiz. The horsemen tooke too Indians and returned with them to the Riuer where the Gouernour staied for them He sought to learne of them what habitation was toward the West There was none in the Campe that could vnderstand their language The Gouernour assembled the Captaines and principall persons to determine with their aduice what they should doe And the most part said that they thought it best to returne backe to Rio grande or the great Riuer of Guachoya because that id Nilco and thereabout was store of Maiz saying that they would make Pinnaces that winter and the next Summer passe downe the Riuer to the Seaward in them and comming to the Sea they would goe along the coast to Nuena Espanna For though it seemed a doubtfull thing and difficult by that which they had already alleadged yet it was the last remedy they had For by land they could not goe for want of an Interpreter And they held that the Countrie beyond the Riuer of Dayaco where they were was that which Cabeça de Uaca mentioned in his relation that he passed of the Indians which liued like the Alarbes hauing no setled place and fed vpon Tunas and rootes of the fields and wilde beasts that they killed Which if it were so if they should enter into it and finde no victuals to passe the winter they could not choose but perish For they were entred already into the beginning of October and if they staied any longer they were not able to returne for raine and snowes nor to sustaine themselues in so poore a Countrie The Gouernour that desired long to see himselfe in a place where hee might sleepe his full sleepe rather then to conquer and gouerne a Countrie where so many troubles presented themselues presently returned backe that same way that he came When that which was determined was published to the Campe there were many that were greatly grieued at it for they held the Sea voyage as doubtfull for the euill meanes they had and as great danger as the trauelling by land and they hoped to finde some rich Countrey before they came to the land of the Christians by that which Cabeça de Vaca had told the Emperour and that was this That after he had found cloathes made of Cotten wooll hee saw Gold and Siluer and stones of great value And they had not yet come where hee had beene For vntill that place he alwayes trauelled by the Sea coast and they trauelled farre within the land and that going toward the West of necessitie they should come where he had beene For he said That in a certaine place he trauelled many dayes and entred into the land toward the North. And in Guasco they had already found some Turkie stones and Mantles of Cotten wooll which the Indians signified by signes that they had from the West and that holding that course they should draw neere to the land of the Christians From Daycao where now they were to Rio grando or the great Riuer was one hundred and fiftie leagues which vnto that place they had gone Westward They departed from Nilco in the beginning of December and all that way and before from Chilano they endured much trouble for they passed through many waters and many times it rained with a Northren winde and was exceeding colde so that they were in open field with water ouer and vnderneath them and when at the end of their dayes iourney they found dry ground to rest vpon they gaue great thankes to God With this trouble almost all the Indians that serued them died And after they were in Minoya many Christians also died and the most part were sicke of great and dangerous diseases which had a spice of the lethargie As soone as they came to Minoya the Gouernour commanded them to gather all the chaines together which euery one had to lead Indians in and to gather all the Iron which they had for their prouision and all the rest that was in the Campe and to set vp a forge to make nailes and commanded them to cut downe timber for the Brigandines And a Portugall of Ceuta who hauing bin a prisoner in Fez had learned to saw timber with a long Saw which for such purposes they had carried with them did teach others which helped them to saw timber And a Genowis whom it pleased God to preserue for without him they had neuer come out of the Countrie for there was neuer another that could make Ships but he with foure or fiue other Biscaine Carpenters which hewed his plankes and other timbers made the Brigandines And two calkers the one of Genua the other of Sardinia did calke them with the tow of an hearbe like Hempe whereof before I haue made mention which there is named Enequen And because there was not enough of it
will soone take an end c. And a little below he saith Whereby your Maiestie shall know cleerely how those which gouerne in those quarters doe deserue to be dismounted and deposed from their gouernment to the end that the Common-weales may be relieued That if that be not done in mine aduise they can neuer be cured of their diseases His Maiestie shall vnderstand moreouer that in those Regions there are not any Christians but Deuils that there are no Seruants of God and the King but Traitors to the state and their King And in truth the greatest incumbrance that I find in reducing the Indians that are in warre and to set them at peace and to lead those which are at peace to the knowledge of our faith is vnnaturall and cruell entreatie which they that are in peace receiue of the Spanish being so deeply altered and launced that they haue nothing in more hatred and horror then the name of Christians the which in all these Countries they call in their Language Yares that is to say Deuils For the acts which they committed here are neither of Christians nor of men which haue the vse of reason but of Deuils Whereof it commeth to passe that the Indies which doe see these behauiours to be generally so farre estranged from all humanitie and without any mercie aswell in the heads as in the members they esteeme that the Christians do hold these things for a Law and that their God and their King are the Authors thereof And to endeuour to perswade them otherwise were to endeuour in vaine and to minister vnto them the more ample matter to deride and scorne Iesus Christ and his Law The Indians that are in war seeing the intreatie vsed toward the Indians that are in peace would choose rather to die once for all then to endure sundrie deaths beeing vnder the command of the Spanish I know this by experience most victorious Caesar c. He calleth the Indians in warre those which saued themselues by flying into the Mountaines from the slaughters of the mischieuous Spaniards And hee calleth the Indians in peace those which after hauing lost an infinite of their people by the Massacres haue beene thralled into the Tyrannicall and horrible seruitude aforesaid and whereof in the end they haue beene fined out desolated and slaine as appeareth by that which hath beene said by the Bishoppe which notwithstanding speaketh but little in comparison of that which they haue suffered The Indians in that Countrie haue accustomed to say if when they are trauelled and driuen vp the Mountaines loden they happen to fall downe and to faint for feeblenesse and for paine for at that time they lay on vpon them blowes with their feet and with their staues and they breake their teeth with the pummels of their Swords to make them rise and march on without taking of breath with these words Out vpon thee what a Uillaine art thou they I say the Indians for their parts are wont to say I can no more kill me here right I doe desire to die heere and this they say with great sighes and being scarce able to speake for hauing their heart drawne together declaring a great anguish and dolour Of the Prouince of Carthagene THis Prouince of Carthagene is situate vnder and a fiftie leagues distant from the same of Saint Martha towards the West confining with the Prouince of Ceu vnto the Gulph of Araba which are a hundred leagues all along the Sea-side and is a great Countrie within Land towards the South These Prouinces since the yeere 1498. or ninetie nine vntill now haue beene euill entreated martyred massacred desolated like vnto that of Saint Martha Of the Coast of Pearles and of Paria and of the I le of the Trinitie FRom the Coast of Paria vnto the Gulfe of Venesuela without forth which are two hundred leagues the Spanish haue wrought great and strange destructions rioting vpon that people and taking aliue as many as they could to the end they might sell them for slaues and oftentimes making them prisoners against the assurance and the promise of friendship made vnto them It cannot bee well told nor particularly exprest the sundrie kindes and greiuous vexations wrongs hurts and spoiles which those people indured at the Spaniards hands from the yeere 1510. vntill this present I will onely rehearse two or three acts by the which it may be iudged of the rest innumerable and excessiue and worthy all torments and fire In the I le of the Trinitie which is farre greater and more fertile then the I le of Sicile and ioyneth with the firme Land of the Coast of Paria and where the people are the best disposed and most enclined to vertue in their kind of all the Indians as they went there a Captaine Rouer in the yeere 1510. accompanied with sixtie or seuentie other pettie Theeues well appointed they published among the Indians by Proclamations and other publike Summons that they should come and dwell and liue with them in that I le The Indians receiued them as their owne bowels and babes and as well the Lords as Subiects serued them with exceeding readinesse bringing them to eate from day to day as much as might suffice to feed as many moe people For this is the liberalitie of all these Indians of the new World to bestow on the Spaniards of all that they haue in great abundance The Spanish build a great house of Timber in the which the Indians should dwell altogether for the Spanish would haue it so that there should bee one only house for all and no more to compasse that which they had alreadie premeditate to doe and did it When they laid the Thatch vpon the binding staues or sparres and had alreadie couered to the height of two mens length to the end that those that were within might not see those that were without vnder colour to hasten forward the worke that it might bee the sooner dispatched they set a great number of people within the Spaniards deuiding themselues the one part of them being bestowed without compassing the house round about with their weapons because of those that might get forth the other part of them presse into the house Thus laying hands on their Swords they beganne to threaten the Indians naked as they were to kill them if they did stirre and then bound them And those which fled they hewed them in pieces Howbeit some of the Indians which fled both of the hurt and not hurt with others that had not come within the house tooke their Bowes and Arrowes and assembled themselues in another house about an hundred or two hundred persons And as they kept the gate the Spaniards set fire on the house and burned them aliue After with their purchase which might bee of an hundred or fourescore persons of them which they had bound they get them to the I le of Saint Iohn where they sold the one moitie and thence to the I le
Grenado which they call Popayin and Cali and three or foure others which containe more then fiue hundred leagues of ground which they haue destroyed and desolated in the same manner as they haue done others robbing and slaying with torments and the enornities afore spoken of For the land is very fertile and those that come from thence now daily doe report that it is a ruefull thing to see so many goodly Townes burned and laid desolate as they might behold passing vp and downe that way so as there where there was worâ— to be in one towne a thousand or two thousand households they haue not found fiftie and the rest vtterly ransacked and dispeopled And in some quarters they haue found two or three hundred leagues of Land dispeopled and burned and great Cities destroyed And finally by that that sithence into the Realmes of Peru of the Prouince side of Quito are entred farre into the Countrey sore and fell tyrants as farre as to the said Realme of Grenado and of Popayan and of Cali by the coast of Carthagene and Araba and other accursed tyrants of Carthagene haue gone to assault Quito and moreouer afterwards of the Riuers side of Saint Iohn which is on the South side all the which haue met to ioyne hands together in this exploit they haue rooted out and dispeopled aboue sixe hundred leagues of land with the losse of an infinite of soules doing still the selfe same to the poore wretches that remaine behinde howsoeuer innocent they appeare to be After the ends of the slaughters and massacres of the warres they bring the people into the horrible bondage abouesaid and giue them to the commandement of Deuils to one an hundred Indians to another three hundred The commander Deuill commandeth that there come before him an hundred Indians which incontinent present themselues like Lambes He causing forty or fifty amongst them to haue their heads cut off sayth vnto the other there present I will serue you of the same sauce if you doe not me good seruice or if so be that you goe out of my sight without my leaue That for the honour of God all they that haue read this piece of worke or shall giue it a reading consider now whether this act so hideous fell and vnnaturall doe not exceed all cruelty and iniquitie that may bee imagined and whether the Spaniards haue any wrong offered them when a man calleth them Diuels and whether were better to giue the Indians to keepe to the Deuils in Hell or the Spaniards which are at the Indies After this I will rehearse another deuilish part the which I cannot tell whether it bee lesse cruell and voide of manhood then are those of sauage beasts that is that the Spanish which are in the Indies doe keepe certaine Dogs most raging taught and trained wholly to the purpose to kill and rend in pieces the Indians That let all those that are true Christians yea and also those which are not so behold if euer there were the like thing in the whole world that is to feed those Dogs they leade about with them wheresoeuer they goe a great number of Indians in chaines as if they were Hogs and kill them making a shambles of mans flesh And the one of them will say to another Lend mee a quarter of a villaine to giue my Dogs some meate vntill I kill one next altogether as if one should borrowe a quarter of an Hogge or Mutton There be others which goe forth a hunting in the morning with their curres the which being returned to eate if another aske him How haue yee sped to day they answere Very well for I haue killed with my Dogs to day fifteene or twnety Villacoes All these diabolicall doings with others like haue beene proued in the suits of Law that the tyrants haue had one of them against another Is there any case more ougly or vnnaturall I will here now deport me of this discourse vntill such time that there come other newes of things in vngraciousnesse more notcrious and remarkable if it so bee that there can bee any more grieuous or vntill such time as we may returne thither to behold them our selues anew as we behold them for the space of two and forty yeeres continually with mine owne eyes protesting in a good conscience before God that I doe beleeue and I hold it for certaine that the damages and losses are so great with the destructions and ouerthrowes of Cities massacres and murders with the cruelties horrible and ougly with the rauins iniquities and robberies all the which things haue beene executed amongst those people and are yet daily committed in those quarters that in all the things which I haue spoken and deciphered as I was able the neerest to the truth I haue not said one of a thousand of that which haâ—h beene done and is daily a doing at this present bee it that you consider the qualitie or bee it that yee consider the quantitie And to the end that all Christians haue the greater compassion of those poore innocents and that they complaine with me the more their perdition and destruction and that they detest the greedinesse loftinesse and felnesse of the Spanish that all doe hold it for a most vndoubted veritie with all that hath beene abouesaid that sithence the first Discouerie of the Indies vntill now the Indians neuer did harme vnto the Spanish in any place wheresoeuer vntill such time that they first receiued wrongs and iniuries being robbed and betrayed but indeed did repute them to be immortall supposing them to be descended from Heauen and they receiued them for such vntill such time as that they gaue it forth manifestly to be knowne by their doings what they were and whereto they tended I will adioyne hereunto this that from the beginning vnto this houre the Spaniards haue had no more care to procure that vnto those people should be preached the Faith of Iesus Christ then as if they had beene Currâ—dogs or other beasts but in lieu thereof which is much worse they haue forbidden by expresse meanes the religious men to doe it for because that that seemed vnto them an hinderance likely to be to the getting of their Gold and these riches which their auarice foreglutted in And at the day there is no more knowledge of God throughout the Indies to wit whether he be of timber of the aire or the earth then there was an hundred yeeres agoe excepting New Spaine whither the religious men haue gone which is but a little corner of the Indies and so are they perished and doe perish all with Faith and without Sacraments I brother Bartholomew de las Casas or Casaus religious of the Order of Saint Dominicke which by the mercy of God am come into this Court of Spaine to sue that the Hell might bee withdrawen from the Indies and that these innumerable soules redeemed by the bloud of Iesus Christ should not perish for euermore without remedie but
Pinnasse All this Riuer is some three hundred or foure hundred paces broad and very wholsome Wee saw fiue Ilands in it distant one from the other a quarter or halfe a league or a league at the most one of which is a league long which is the neerest to the mouth and the others are very small All these Countries are couered with Trees and low Lands like those which I had seene before but here are more Firres and Cypresses then in other places Neuerthelesse the soile is good although it bee somewhat sandy This Riuer runneth in a manner South-west The Sauages say that some fifteene leagues from the place where we were vp the Riuer there is a Sault which falleth downe from a very steepe place where they carry their Canowes to passe the same some quarter of a league and come into a Lake at the mouth whereof are three Ilands and being within the same they meete with more Iles This Lake may containe some fortie or fiftie leagues in 〈…〉 gth and some fiue and twentie leagues in breadth into which many Riuers fall to the number of ten which carrie Canowes very far vp When they are come to the end of this Lake there is another fall and they enter againe into another Lake which is as great as the former at the head whereof the Irocois are lodged They say moreouer that there is a Riuer which runneth vnto the Coast of Florida whether it is from the said last Lake some hundred or an hundred and fortie leagues All the Countrey of the Irocois is somewhat Mountaynous yet notwithstanding exceeding good temperate without much Winter which is very short there AFter our departure from the Riuer of the Irocois wee anchored three leagues beyond the same on the North side All this Countrie is a lowe Land replenished with all sorts of trees which I haue spoken of before The first day of Iuly we coasted the North side where the wood is very thinne and more thinne then wee had seene in any place before and all good land for tillage I went in a Canoa to the South shoare where I saw a number of Iles which haue many fruitfull trees as Vines Wal-nuts Hasel-nuts and a kinde of fruit like Chest-nuts Cheries Oskes Aspe Hoppes Ashe Beech Cypresses very few Pines and Firre-trees There are also other trees which I knew not which are very pleasant Wee found there store of Strawberries Rasp-berries Goos-berries red greene and blue with many small fruits which growe there among great abundance of grasse There are also many wilde beasts as Orignas Stagges Does Buckes Beares Porkepickes Conies Foxes Beauers Otters Muske-rats and certaine other kindes of beasts which I doe not knowe which are good to eate and whereof the Sauages liue Wee passed by an I le which is very pleasant and containeth some foure leagues in length and halfe a league in breadth I saw toward the South two high Mountaines which shewed some twentie leagues within the Land The Sauages told mee that here beganne the first fall of the foresaid Riuer of the Irocois The Wednesday following wee departed from this place and sayled some fiue or sixe leagues Wee saw many Ilands the Land is there very lowe and these Iles are couered with trees as those of the Riuer of the Irocais were The day following being the third of Iuly we ranne certaine leagues and passed likewise by many other Ilands which are excellent good and pleasant through the great store of Medowes which are thereabout as well on the shoare of the maine Land as of the other Ilands and all the Woods are of very small growth in comparison of those which wee had passed At length we came this very day to the entrance of the Sault or Fall of the great Riuer of Canada with fauourable wind and wee met with an I le which is almost in the middest of the said entrance which is a quarter of a league long and passed on the South side of the said I le where there was not past three foure or fiue foot water and sometimes a fathome or two and straight on the sudden wee found againe not past three or foure foot There are many Rockes and small Ilands whereon there is no wood and they are euen with the water From the beginning of the foresaid I le which is in the middest of the said entrance the water beginneth to runne with a great force Although we had the wind very good yet wee could not with all our might make any great way neuerthelesse wee passed the said Ile which is at the entrance of the Sault or Fall When wee perceiued that wee could goe no further wee came to an anchor on the North shoare ouer against a small Iland which aboundeth for the most part with those kinde of fruits which I haue spoken of before Without all delay wee made ready our skiffe which wee had made of purpose to passe the said Sault whereinto the said Monsieur de Pont and my selfe entred with certaine Sauages which we had brought with vs to shew vs the way Departing from our Pinnace we were scarse gone three hundred paces but we were forced to come out and cause certain Mariners to goe into the water to free our Skiffe The Canoa of the Sauages passed easily Wee met with an infinite number of small Rockes which were euen with the water on which wee touched oftentimes There he two great Ilands one on the North side which containeth some fifteene leagues in length and almost as much in breadth beginning some twelue leagues vp within the Riuer of Canada going toward the Riuer of the Irocois and endeth beyond the Sault The Iland which is on the South side is some foure leagues long and some halfe league broad There is also another Iland which is neere to that on the North side which may bee some halfe league long and some quarter broad and another small Iland which is betweene that on the North side and another neerer to the South shoare whereby wee passed the entrance of the Sault This entrance being passed there is a kinde of Lake wherein all these Ilands are some fiue leagues long and almost as broad wherein are many small Ilands which are Rockes There is a Mountaine neere the said Sault which discouereth farre into the Countrie and a little Riuer which falleth from the said Mountaine into the Lake On the South side are some three or foure Mountaines which seeme to be about fifteene or sixteene leagues within the Land There are also two Riuers one which goeth to the first Lake of the Riuer of the Irocois by which sometimes the Algoumequins inuade them and another which is neere vnto the Sault which runneth not farre into the Countrey At our comming neere to the said Sault with our Skiffe and Canoa I assure you I neuer saw any streame of water to fall downe with such force as this doth although it
bee not very high being not in some places past one or two fathoms and at the most three it falleth as it were steppe by steppe and in euery place where it hath some small heigth it maketh a strong boyling with the force and strength of the running of the water In the breadth of the said Sault which may containe some league there are many broad Rockes and almost in the middest there are very narrow and long Ilands where there is a Fall as well on the side of the said Iles which are toward the South as on the North side where it is so dangerous that it is not possible for any man to passe with any Boat how small soeuer it be We went on land through the Woods to see the end of this Sault where after wee had trauelled a league wee saw no more Rockes nor Falls but the water runneth there so swiftly as it is possible and this current lasteth for three or foure leagues so that it is in vaine to imagine that a man is able to passe the said Saults with any Boats But he that would passe them must fit himselfe with the Canoas of the Sauages which one man may easily carrie For to carrie Boats is a thing which cannot be done in to short time as it should bee to bee able to returne into France vnlesse a man would winter there And beside this first Sault there are ten Saults more the most part hard to passe So that it would be a matter of great paines and trauell to bee able to see and doe that by Boat which a man might promise himselfe without great cost and charge and also to bee in danger to trauell in vaine But with the Canoas of the Sauages a man may trauell freely and readily into all Countries as well in the small as in the great Riuers So that directing himselfe by the meanes of the said Sauages and their Canoas a man may see all that is to be seene good and bad within the space of a yeere or two That little way which wee trauelled by Land on the side of the said Sault is a very thinne Wood through which men with their Armes may march easily without any trouble the aire is there more gentle and temperate and the soyle better then in any place that I had seene where is store of such wood and fruits as are in all other places before mentioned and it is in the latitude of 45. degrees and certaine minutes When we saw that we could doe no more we returned to our Pinnace where we examined the Sauages which we had with vs of the end of the Riuer which I caused them to draw with their hand and from what part the Head thereof came They told vs that beyond the first Sault that we had seene they trauelled some ten or fifteene leagues with their Canoas in the Riuer where there is a Riuer which â—unneth to the dwelling of the Algoumequins which are some sixty leagues distant from the great Riuer and then they passed fiue Saults which may containe from the first to the last eight leagues whereof there are two where they carrie their Canoas to passe them euery Sault may containe halfe a quarter or a quarter of a league at the most And then they come into a Lake which may be fifteene or sixteene leagues long From thence they enter againe into a Riuer which may be a league broad and trauell some two leagues in the same and then they enter into another Lake some foure or fiue leagues long comming to the end thereof they passe fiue other Saults distant from the first to the last some fiue and twenty or thirty leagues whereof there are three where they carrie their Canoas to passe them and thorow the other two they doe but draw them in the water because the current is not there so strong nor so bad as in the others None of all these Saults is so hard to passe as that which we saw Then they come into a Lake which may containe some eighty leagues in length in which are many Ilands and at the end of the same the water is brackish and the Winter gentle At the end of the said Lake they passe a Sault which is somewhat high where little water descendeth there they carrie their Canoas by land about a quarter of a league to passe this Sault From thence they enter into another Lake which may be some sixty leagues long and that the water thereof is very brackish at the end thereof they come vnto a Strait which is two leagues broad and it goeth farre into the Countrie They told vs that they themselues had passed no farther and that they had not seene the end of a Lake which is within fifteene or sixteene leagues of the farthest place where themselues had beene nor that they which told them of it had knowne any man that had seene the end thereof because it is so great that they would not hazard themselues to sayle farre into the same for feare lest some storme or gust of winde should surprise them They say that in the Summer the Sunne doth set to the North of the said Lake and in the Winter it setteth as it were in the middest thereof That the water is there exceesalt to wit as salt as the Sea water I asked them whether from the last Lake which they had seene the water descended alwaies downe the Riter comming to Gaschepay They told me no but said that from the third Lake onely it descended to Gaschepay But that from the last Sault which is somewhat high as I haue said the water was almost still and that the said Lake might take his course by other Riuers which passe within the Lands either to the South or to the North whereof there are many that runne there the end whereof they see not Now in my iudgement if so many Riuers fall into this Lake hauing so small a course at the said Sault it must needs of necessitie fall out that it must haue his issue forth by some exceeding great Riuer But that which maketh me beleeue that there is no Riuer by which this Lake doth issue forth considering the number of so many Riuers as fall into it is this that the Sauages haue not seene any Riuer that runneth through the Countries saue in the place where they were Which maketh me beleeue that this is the South Sea being salt as they say Neuerthelesse we may not giue so much credit thereunto but that it must bee done with apparent reasons although there be some small shew thereof And this assuredly is all that hitherto I haue seene and heard of the Sauages touching that which we demanded of them VVEe departed from the said Sault on Friday the fourth day of Iuly and returned the same day to the Riuer of the Irocois On Sunday the sixth of Iuly wee departed from thence and anchored in the Lake The Monday following wee
Some three leagues beyond we passed neere vnto another Riuer which seemed to be very great yet barred for the most part with Rockes some eight leagues farther there is a Point which runneth a league and an halfe into the Sea where there is not past a fathome and an halfe of water When you are passed this Point there is another about foure leagues off where is water enough All this Coast is low and sandie Foure leagues beyond this there is a creeke where a Riuer entreth many ships may passe heere on the West side this is a low point which runneth about a league into the Sea you must runne along the Easterne shoare some three hundred paces to enter into the same This is the best Hauen which is all along the North shoare but it is very dangerous in going thither because of the flats and sholds of sand which lye for the most part all along the shoare almost two leagues into the Sea About six leagues from thence there is a Bay where there is an Isle of sand all this Bay is very shallow except on the East side where it hath about foure fathoms water within the channell which entreth into the said Bay some foure leagues up there is a faire creeke where a Riuer entreth All this coast is low and sandie there descendeth a fall of water which is great About fiue leagues farther is a Point which stretcheth about halfe a league into the Sea where there is a creeke and from the one point to the other are three leagues but all are shoald where is little water About two leagues off there is a strand where there is a good hauen and a small Riuer wherein are three Islands and where Ships may harbour themselues from the weather Three leagues beyond this is a sandie point which runneth out about a league at the end whereof there is a small Islet Going forward to Lesqueuim you meete with two little low Islands and a little rocke neere the shoare these said Ilands are about halfe a league from Lesqueuim which is a very bad Port compassed with rockes and dry at a low water and you must fetch about a little point of a rocke to enter in where one Ship onely can passe at a time A little higher there is a Riuer which runneth a little way into the land This is the place where the Basks kill the Whales to say the truth the hauen is starke naught Wee came from thence to the foresaid hauen of Tadousac the third day of August All these Countries before mentioned are low toward the shoare and within the land very high They are neither so pleasant nor fruitfull as those on the South although they be lower And this for a certaintie is all which I haue seene of this Northerne coast AT our comming to Tadousac we found the Saâ—ages which wee met in the Riuer of the Irâ—cois who met with three Canowes of the Irocois in the first Lake which fought against tenne others of the Mountayners and they brought the heads of the Irocois to Tadousac and there was but one Mountayner wounded in the arme with the shot of an Arrow who dreaming of something all the other tenne must seeke to content him thinking also that his wound thereby would mend if this Sauage die his Parents will reuenge his death either vpon their Nation or vpon others or at least wise the Captaines must giue Presents to the Parents of the dead to content them otherwise as I haue said they would be reuenged which is a great fault among them Before the said Mountayners set forth to the Warre they assembled all with their richest apparell of Furres Beauers and other Skinnes adorned with Pater-nosters and Chaines of diuers colours and assembled in a great publike place where there was before them a Sagaue whose name was Begâ—â—rat which led them to the Warre and they marched one behind another with their Bowes and Arrowes Mases and Targets wherewith they furnish themselues to fight and they went leaping one after another in making many gestures of their bodies they made many turnings like a Snaile afterward they began to dance after their accustomed manner as I haue said before then they made their Peast and after they had ended it the women stripped themselues starke naked being decked with their fairest Cordons and went into their Canowes thus naked and there danced and then they went into the water and strooke at one another with their Oares and beate water one vpon another yet they did no hurt for they warded the blowes which they strooke one at the other After they had ended all these Ceremonies they retired themselues into their Cabines and the Sauages went to warre against the Irocois The sixt day of August we departed from Tadousac and the eighteenth of the said moneth we arriued at the I le Perçee where wee found Mon 〈…〉 r Preuert of Saint Malo which came from the Myne where he had beene with much trouble for the feare which the Sauages had to meet with their enemies which are the Ar 〈…〉 cois which are Sauages very monstrous for the shape that they haue For their head is little and their body short their armes small like a bone and their thigh like their legges great and long which are all of one proportion and when they sit vpon their heeles their knees are higher by halfe a foot then their head which is a strange thing and they seeme to be out of the course of Nature Neuerthelesse they be very valiant and resolute and are planted in the best Countries of all the South Coast And the Souricois do greatly feare them But by the incouragement which the said Mon 〈…〉 r de Preuert gaue them hee brought them to the said Myne to which the Sauages guided him It is a very high Mountaine rising somewhat ouer the Sea which glistereth very much against the Sunne and there is great store of Verde-grease issuing out of the said Myne of Copper He saith that at the foot of the said Mountayne at a low water there were many morsels of Copper as was otherwise declared vnto vs which fall downe from the top of the Mountaine Passing three or foure leagues further toward the South there is another Myne and a small Riuer which runneth a little way vp into the Land running toward the South where there is a Mountaine which is of a blacke painting wherewith the Sauages paint themselues Some sixe leagues beyond the second Myne toward the Sea about a league from the South Coast there is an I le wherein is found another kind of Metall which is like a darke browne if you cut it it is white which they vsed in old time for their Arrowes and Kniues and did beate it with stones Which maketh me beleeue that it is not Tinne nor Lead being so hard as it is and hauing shewed them siluer they said that the Myne of
scarsly found in those Woods They gaue him food by measure and brought him backe againe to the company at the Iland of Saint Croix whereof euery one receiued an incredible ioy and consolation Before we speake of the ships returne into France it is meete to tell you how hard the I le of Saint Croix is to bee found out to them that were neuer there For there are so many Iles and great Bayes to goe by before one be at it that I wonder how euer one might pierce so farre for to finde it There are three or foure Mountaines imminent aboue the others on the sides But on the North side from whence the Riuer runneth downe there is but a sharpe pointed one aboue two leagues distant The Woods of the maine Land are faire and admirable high and well growne as in like manner is the grasse There is right ouer against the Iland fresh water brooks very pleasant and agreeable where diuers of Monsieur de Monts his men did their businesse and builded there certaine Cabanes As for the nature of the ground it is most excellent and most abundantly fruitfull For the said Monsieur de Monts hauing caused there some piece of ground to bee tilled and the same sowed with Rie for I haue seene there no Wheate hee was not able to tarrie for the maturitie thereof to reape it and notwithstanding the graine fallen hath growne and increased so wonderfully that two yeeres after we reaped and did gather of it as faire bigge and weightie as in France which the soile had brought forth without any tillage and yet at this present it doth continue still to multiply euery yeere The said Iland containeth some halfe a league of circuit and at the end of it on the Sea side there is a Mount or small Hill which is as it were a little Ile seuered from the other where Monsieur de Monts his Canon was placed There is also a litâ—le Chappell built after the Sauage fashion At the foot of which Chappell there is such store of Muscles as is wonderfull which may bee gathered at low water but they are small Now let vs prepare and hoise vp sailes Monsieur de Poutrincourt made the Voyage into these parts with some men of good sort not to winter there but as it were to seeke out his seate and find out a Land that might like him Which he hauing done â—ad no need to soiourne there any longer So then the ships being ready for the returne he shipped himselfe and those of his companie in one of them During the foresaid Nauigation Monsieur du Monts his people did worke about the Fort which he seated at the end of the Iland opposite to the place where he had lodged his Cannon Which was wisely considered to the end to command the Riuer vp and downe But there was an inconuenience the said Fort did lie towards the North and without any shelter but of the trees that were on the I le shoare which all about he commanded to be kept and not cut downe The most vrgent things being done and hoary snowy Father being come that is to say Winter then they were forced to keepe within doores and to liue euery one at his owne home during which time our men had three speciall discommodities in this Iland videlicet want of wood for that which was in the said Ile was spent in buildings lacke of fresh water and the continuall watch made by night fearing some surprise from the Sauages that had lodged themselues at the foot of the said Iland or some other enemie For the malediction and rage of many Christians is such that one must take heed of them much more than of Infidels A thing which grieueth me to speake would to God I were a lyar in this respect and that I had no cause to speake it When they had need of water or wood they were constrained to crosse ouer the Riuer which is thrice as broad of euery side as the Riuer of Seine It was a thing painfull and tedious in such sort that it was needfull to keepe the Boat the whole day before one might get those necessaries In the meane while the cold and snowes came vpon them and the Ice so strong that the Sider was frozen in the vessels and euery one his measure was giuen him out by weight As for Wine it was distributed but at certaine dayes of the weeke Many idle sluggish companions dranke snow-water not willing to take the paines to crosse the Riuer Briefly the vnknowne sicknesses like to those described vnto vs by Iames Quartier in his Relation assailed vs. For remedies there was none to bee found In the meane while the poore sicke creatures did Ianguish pining away by little and little for want of sweet meates as Milke or spoon-meate for to sustaine their stomackes which could not receiue the hard meates by reason of let proceeding from a rotten flesh which grew and ouer-abounded within their mouthes and when one thought to root it out it did growe againe in one nights space more abundantly than before As for the tree called Annedda mentioned by the said Quartier the Sauages of these Lands knowe it not So that it was most pitifull to behold euery one very few excepted in this miserie and the miserable sicke folkes to die as it were full of life without any possibilitie to be succoured There died of this sicknesse thirty sixe and thirty sixe or forty more that were stricken with it recouered themselues by the helpe of the Spring as soone as the comfortable season appeared But the deadly season for that sicknesse is in the end of Ianuary the moneths of February and March wherein most commonly the sicke doe die euery one at his turne according to the time they haue begunne to be sicke in such sort that he which beganne to be ill in February and March may escape but he that shall ouer-haste himselfe and betake him to his bed in December and Ianuary he is in danger to die in February March or the beginning of Aprill Monsieur de Poutrincourt made a Negro to be opened that died of that sicknesse in our Voyage who was found to haue the inward parts very sound except the stomacke that had wrinkles as though they were vlcered As for the food this sicknesse is caused by cold meates without iuyce grosse and corrupted One must then take heed of salt meates smoaky musty raw and of an euill sent likewise of dried fishes as New-found-Land fish and stinking Rayes Briefly from all melancholy meates which are of hard digesting are easily corrupted and breed a grosse and melancholy bloud I would not for all that bee so scrupulous as the Physicians which doe put in number of grosse and melancholy meates Beeues flesh Beares wilde Boares and Hogs flesh they might as well adde vnto them Beauers flesh which notwithstanding wee haue found very good as they doe amongst
season there one may see Orange-trees Lymmon-trees Fig-trees Pomgranat-trees and all such sorts of trees bring forth fruit as good as in Prouence The Sauages vse sweatings often as it were euery moneth and by this meanes they preserue themselues driuing out by sweate all the cold and euill humours they might haue gathered But one singular preseruatiue against this perfidious sicknesse which commeth so stealingly and which hauing once lodged it selfe within vs will not bee put out is to follow the counsell of him that is wife amonst the wise who hauing considered all the afflictions that man giue to himselfe during his life hath found nothing better then to reioyce himselfe and doe good 〈◊〉 take pleasure in his owne workes They that haue done so in our companie haue found themse 〈…〉 s well by it contrariwise some alwaies grudging repining neuer content idle haue beene found out by the same disease True it is that for to enioy mirth it is good to haue the sweetnesse of fresh meates Fleshes Fishes Milke Butter Oyles Fruits and such like which wee had not at will I meane the common sort for alwaies some one or other of the companie did furnish Monsieur de Poutrincourt his Table with Wilde-fowle Venison or fresh Fish And if wee had halfe a dozen Kine I beleeue that no body had died there It resteth a preseruatiue necessary for the accomplishment of mirth and to the end one may take pleasure on the worke of his hands is euery one to haue the honest companie of his lawfull wife for without that the cheere is neuer perfect ones minde is alwaies vpon that which one loues and desireth there is still some sorrow the body becomes full of ill humours and so the sicknesse doth breed And for the last and soueraigne remedie I send backe the Patient to the tree of life for so one may well qualifie it which Iames Quartier doth call Anneda yet vnknowne in the coast of Port Royall vnlesse it bee peraduenture the Sasafras whereof there is quantitie in certaine places And it is an assured thing that the said tree is very excellent But Monsieur Champlain who is now in the great Riuer of Canada passing his Winter in the same part where the said Quartier did winter hath charge to finde it out and to make prouision thereof THe rough season being passed Monsieur de Monts wearied with his bad dwelling at Saint Croix determined to seeke out another Port in a warmer Countrie and more to the South And to that end made a Pinnace to bee armed and furnished with victuals to follow the coast and discouering new Countries to seeke out some happier Port in a more temperate aire Hee made in this Voyage but about an hundred and twenty leagues as wee will tell you now From Saint Croix to sixty leagues forward the coast lieth East and West at the end of which sixty leagues is a Riuer called by the Sauages Kinibeki From which place to Malebarre it lieth North and South and there is yet from one to the other sixty leagues in right line not following the Bayes So farre stretcheth Monsieur de Monts his Voyage wherein hee had for Pilot in his Vessell Monsieur de Champdore In all this Coast so farre as Kinibeki there are many places where shippes may bee harboured amongst the Ilands but the people there is not so frequent as is beyond that And there is no remarkable thing at least that may bee seene in the outside of the Lands but a Riuer whereof many haue written fables one after another I will recite that which is in the last Booke intituled The vniuersall Historie of the West Indies Printed at Douay the last yeere 1607. in the place where hee speaketh of Norombega For in reporting this I shall haue also said that which the first haue written from whom they haue had it Moreouer towards the North sayth the Authour after hee had spoken of Virginia is Norombega which is knowne well enough by reason of a faire Towne and a great Riuer though it is not found from whence it hath his name for the Barbarians doe call it Aguncia At the mouth of this Riuer there is an Iland very fit for fishing The Region that goeth along the Sea doth abound in fish and towards New France there is great number of wilde beasts and is very commodious for hunting the Inhabitants doe liue in the same manner as they of New France If this beautifull Towne hath euer beene in nature I would faine knowe who hath pulled it downe For there is but Cabins heere and there made with pearkes and couered with barkes of trees or with skinnes and both the Riuer and the place inhabited is called Pemptegoet and not Agguncia The Riuer sauing the tide is scarce as the Riuer on that coast because there are not Lands sufficient to produce them by reason of the great Riuer of Canada which runneth like this coast and is not fourescore leagues distant from that place in crossing the Lands which from else-where receiued many Riuers falling from those parts which are towards Norombega At the entrie whereof it is so farre from hauing but one Iland that rather the number thereof is almost infinite for as much as this Riuer enlarging it selfe like the Greeke Lambda 〈◊〉 the mouth whereof is all full of Iles whereof there is one of them lying very farre off and the formost in the Sea which is high and markable aboue the others But some will say that I equiuocate in the situation of Norombega and that it is not placed where I take it To this I answer that the Author whose words I haue a little before alleaged is in this my sufficient warrant who in his Geographicall Mappe hath placed in the mouth of this Riuer in the 44. degree and his supposed Towne in the 45. wherein we differ but in one degree which is a small matter For the Riuer that I meane is in the 45. degree and as for any Towne there is none Now of necessity it must be this riuer because that the same being passed and that of Kinibeki which is in the same higth there is no other Riuer forward whereof account should be made till one come to Virginia I say furthermore that seeing the Barbarians of Norombega doe liue as they of new France and haue abundance of hunting it must be that their Prouince be sea 〈…〉 our new France for fiftie leagues farther to the South-west there is no great game bec 〈…〉 e the woods are thinner there and the Inhabitants setled and in greater number then in Norombega The Riuer of Norombega being passed Monsieur de Monts went still coasting vntill he came to Kinibeki where a Riuer is that may shorten the way to goe to the great Riuer of Canada There is a number of Sauages Cabined there and the land beginneth there to be better peopled From Kinibeki going farther one findeth the Bay of
Wester part is not passing a mile at most altogether vnpeopled and disinhabited It is ouer-growne with Wood and Rubbish viz. Okes Ashes Beech Wal-nut Weech-halse Sassafrage and Cedars with diuers other of vnknowne names The R 〈…〉 sh is wild Peaze young Sassafrage Cherie trees Vines Eglentine Goose-berie bushes Hawâ—â—orne Honisuckles with others of like qualitie The herbs and Roots are Strawberies Raspis Ground Nuts Alexander Surrin Tansie c. without count Touching the fertilitie of the soyle by our owne experience made we found it to be excellent for sowing some English pulse it sprowted out in one fortnight almost halfe a foot In this Iland is a stage or Pond of fresh water in circuit two miles on the one side not distant from the Sea thirtie yards in the Centre whereof is a Rockie Islet contayning neere an Acre of ground full of wood on which wee beganne our Fort and place of abode disposing it selfe so fit for the same These Indians call Gold Wassador which argueth there is thereof in the Countrey The nine and twentieth we laboured in getting of Sassafrage rubbishing our little Fort or Islet new keeling our shallop and making a Punt or Flat bottome Boate to passe to and fro our Fort ouer the fresh water the powder of Sassafrage in twelue houres cured one of our Company that had taken a great Surfet by eating the bellies of Dog-fish a very delicious meate The thirtieth Captaine Gosnoll with diuers of his company went vpon pleasure in the shallop towards Hills Hap to view it and the Sandie Coue and returning brought with him a Canoa that foure Indians had there left being fled away for feare of our English which we brought into England The one and thirtieth Captaine Gosnoll desirous to see the Maine because of the distance hee set sayle ouer where comming to anchor went ashoare with certaine of his companie and immediatly there presented vnto him men women and children who with all curteous kindnesse entertayned him giuing him certaine skinnes of wilde beasts which may be rich Furres Tobacco Turtles Hempe artificiall Strings câ—â—oured Chaines and such like things as at the inâ—â—ant they had about them These are a faire conditioned people On all the Sea coast along we found Mussell shells that in colour did represent Mother-of-pearle but not hauing meanes to dredge could not apprehend further knowledge thereof This Maine is the goodliest Continent that euer we saw promising more by farre then we any way did expect for it is replenished with faire fields and in them fragrant Flowers also Medowes and hedged in with stately Groues being furnished also with pleasant Brookes and beautified with two maine Riuers that as wee iudge may haply become good Harbours and conduct vs to the hopes men so greedily doe thirst after In the mouth of one of these Inlets or Riuers lieth that little I le before mentioned called Happes Hill from which vnto the Westermost end of the Maine appearing where the other Inlet is I account some fiue leagues and the Coast betweene bendeth like a Bow and lyeth East and by North. Beyond these two Inlets we might perceiue the Mayne to beare vp south-South-west and more Southerly Thus with this taste of Discouery we now contented our selues and the same day made returne vnto our Fort time not permitting more sparing delay The first of Iune we employed our selues in getting Sassafrage and the building of our Fort. The second third and fourth we wrought hard to make readie our house for the prouision to bee had ashore to sustaine vs till our ships returne This day from the Mayne came to our ships side a Canoa with their Lord or chiefe Commander for that they made little stay only pointing to the Sunne as in signe that the next day hee would come and visit vs which hee did accordingly The fifth wee continued our labour when there came vnto vs ashoare from the Mayne fiftie Sauages stout and lustie men with their Bowes and Arrowes amongst them there seemed to be one of authoritie because the rest made an inclining respect vnto him The ship was at their comming a league off and Captaine Gosnoll aboord and so likewise Captaine Gilbert who almost neuer went ashoare the company with me only eight persons These Indians in hastie manner came towards vs so as we thought fit to make a stand at an angle betweene the Sea and a fresh water I mooued my selfe towards him seuen or eight steps and clapt my hands first on the sides of mine head then on my breast and after presented my Musket with a threatning countenance thereby to signifie vnto them either a choice of Peace or Warre whereupon hee vsing mee with mine owne signes of Peace I stept forth and imbraced him his company then all sate downe in manner like Grey-hounds vpon their heeles with whom my company fell a bartering By this time Captaine Gosnoll was come with twelue men more from aboord and to shew the Sauage Seignior that he was our Captaine we receiued him in a guard which he passing thorow saluted the Seignior with ceremonies of our salutations whereat he nothing mooued or altered himselfe Our Captaine gaue him a straw Hat and a paire of Kniues the Hat awhiles hee wore but the Kniues he beheld with great maruelling being very bright and sharpe this our courtesie made them all in loue with vs. The sixt being raine we spent idlely aboord The seuenth the Seignior came againe with all his troupe as before and continued with vs the most part of the day we going to dinner about noone they sate with vs and did eate of our Bacaleure and Mustard dranke of our Beere but the Mustard nipping them in their noses they could not indure it was a sport to behold their faces made being bitten therewith In time of Dinner the Sauages had stolne a Target wherewith acquainting the Seignior with feare and great trembling they restored it againe thinking perhaps we would haue beene reuenged for it but seeing our familiaritie to continue they fell a fresh to roasting of Crabs Red Herrings which were exceeding great ground Nuts c. as before Our Dinner ended the Seignior first tooke leaue and departed next all the rest sauing foure that stayed and went into the Wood to helpe vs digge Sassafrage whom we desired to goe aboord vs which they refused and so departed The eighth wee diuided the victuals viz. the ships store for England and that of the Planters which by Captaine Gilbert allowance could be but sixe weekes for sixe moneths whereby there fell out a controuersie the rather for that some seemed secretly to vnderstand of a purpose Captaine Gilbert had not to returne with supplie of the issue those goods should make by him to be carried home Besides there wanted not ambitious conceits in the mindes of some wrangling and ill disposed persons that ouerthrew the stay there at that time which vpon consultation thereof had about fiue dayes after was
breach ahead vs right along the shoare into which before we entred our Captaine thought best to hoise out his Ship-boat and sound it which if hee had not done wee had there ended our Voyage together with our liues for he bare vp the Ship as neere as he could after the Boate vntill Master Cam his Mate being in the Boat weffed and called to him to winde about and stand off for in this breach he had very shoald water two fathome vpon Rockes and sometime they supposed they saw the Rocke within three or foure foot whereon the Sea made a very high strong breach which we might discerne from the top to runne along as wee sayled by it sixe or seuen leagues to the Southward and we saw no end thereof Wherefore we were constrained to put backe againe from the Land and sounding the weather being faire wee found our selues embayed with continuall Shoalds and Rocks in a most vncertaine ground as by iudgement of our Captaine and whole companie they had neuer knowne the like from fiue and sixe fathome at the next cast of the Lead wee should haue fifteene and eighteene fathome all hard Rocke ouer many which by the vnspeakable goodnesse and mercy of God towards vs wee passed For if we had bare in with it but the day before which was exceeding tempestuous or in the night we could by no meanes haue escaped the danger But God so blessed vs that we had weather and winde as faire as poore men could wish in this distresse whereby we both perfectly discerned euery breach and with the winde were able to turne where wee saw most hope of safest passage Thus we parted from the Land which wee had not so much before desired and at the first sight reioyced as now wee all ioyfully praised God that it had pleased him so miraculously to deliuer vs from so imminent danger of death before our eyes Our Captaine found himselfe in the latitude of 41. degrees and an halfe Here we found great store of fish and saw many Whales as we had done two or three dayes before Wee stood off that night and all the next day being Wednesday but the winde still continuing for many dayes betweene the points of South South-west and West South-west so as we could not by any possible meanes make any way to the Southward in regard of our great want of water and Wood which was now spent wee much desired Land and therefore sought for it where the winde would best suffer vs to refresh our selues Thursday the sixteenth day of May we stood directly in with the Land and we much maruelled that we descried it not wherein wee found our Sea Charts very false laying out Land where none was for though we bare in directly with it according to them yet in almost fifty leagues running we found none Friday the seuenteenth of May about sixe a clocke at night wee descried Land which bare from vs North North-east but because it blew a great gale of winde the Sea very high and neere night not fit to come vpon an vnknowne coâ—st our Captaine stood off till two of the clocke in the morning being Saturday and Whitson Eâ—e then standing with it againe wee descried it by eight a clocke in morning bearing North-east from vs. It appeared a meane high Land as we after found it being but an Iland of no great compasse but I hope the most fortunate that euer men discouered as shall appeare by the sequell About twelue a clocke that day wee came to an anchor on the North side of this Iland in forty fathome water about a league from shoare This Iland is woody growne ouer with Firre Birch and Beech as farre as we saw along the shoare and so likely to be within On the Verge growe Gosseberries Strawberries wilde Pease and wilde Rose bushes The fresh water issued down the rocky Cliffes in many places and much fowle of sundry kindes breed vpon the shoare and Rockes While wee were at shoare our men aboord with a few hookes got aboue thirty great Cod and Haddocke which gaue vs a taste of the great plenty of fish which we found afterward wheresoeuer we went vpon the coast FRom hence we might discerne many Ilands and the maine Land from the West South-west to the East North-east and North North-east from vs a great way as it then seemed and as we after found it vp into the Maine we might discerne very high Mountaines although the Maine seemed but lowe Land which gaue vs a hope that it might please God to direct vs to the Discouery of some good although wee were driuen by windes farre from that place whether both by our direction and desire we euer intended to shape the course of our Voyage The next day being Whitsunday because we rode too much open to the Sea and windes wee wayed anchor about twelue a clocke and came along to the other Ilands more adioyning to the Maine and in the Road directly with the Mountaines about three leagues from the first Iland where we anchored When we came neere vnto them sounding all along in a good depth our Captaine manned his Ship-boat and sent her before with Thomas Cam one of his Mates whom he knew to be of good experience to search and sound about and between the Ilands for a place safe for our ship to ride in In the meane while we kept aloofe at Sea hauing giuen order to them in the Boat by a token to weffe in the ship if he found a conuenient Harbour which it pleased God to send vs farre beyond our expectation in a most safe birth defended from all windes in an excellent depth of water for ships of any burthens in six seuen eight nine and ten fathome vpon a clay oze very tough where is good moring euen on the Rocks vpon the Cliffe side We all with great admiration praised God who had from so apparent danger miraculously deliuered vs and directed vs vpon this day vpon which he sent the chiefe promised Director of all goodnesse vnto his Apostles and Disciples into such a place wherof here before we reade none to haue made either description or relation and then which neither our selues could wish or Nature affoord more secure In remembrance whereof our Captaine named it Pentecost Harbour Whitsun Munday the twentieth day of May by three a clocke in the morning our Captaine caused the Shalop to be carried ashoare where while some were busied about her himselfe set others to worke in digging Wels to receiue the water which we found issuing downe out of the Land in many places and rising amidst the rocky Cliffes In digging amongst other things we found in some places and not deepe clay ground blue red and white to make Bricke or Tile fit for building This day our Pinnace was fitted together and lanched in small time with two or three hookes were fished sufficiently for our whole companie three
some fortie or fiftie men These as also Apamatuck Irrohatocke and Powhatan are their great Kings chiefe Alliance and inhabitance The rest as they report his Conquests Before we come to the third Riuer that falleth from the Mountaines there is another Riuer some thirtie miles nauigable that commeth from the In-land the Riuer is called Payankatanke the Inhabitants are about some fortie seruiceable men The third nauigable Riuer is called Toppahanock This is nauigable some one hundred and thirtie miles At the top of it inhabit the people called Mannahoackes amongst the Mountaines but they are aboue the place we describe Vpon this Riuer on the North side are seated a people called Cuttatowomen with thirtie fighting men Higher on the Riuer are the Moraughtacunds with eightie able men Beyond them Toppahanocke with one hundred men Farre aboue is another Cuttatawomen with twentie men On the South farre within the Riuer is Nautaughtacund hauing one hundred and fiftie men This Riuer also as the two former is replenished with fish and fowle The fourth Riuer is called Patawomeke and is sixe or seuen miles in breadth It is nauigable one hundred and fortie miles and fed as the rest with many sweet Riuers and Springs which fall from the bordering Hils These Hils many of them are planted and yeeld no lesse plentie and varietie of fruit then the Riuer exceedeth with abundance of fish This Riuer is inhabited on both sides First on the South side at the very entrance is Wighcocomoco and hath some one hundred and thirtie men beyond them Sekacawone with thirtie The Onawmanient with one hundred Then Patawomeke with one hundred and sixtie able men Here doth the Riuer diuide it selfe in to three or foure conuenient Riuers The greatest of the least is called Quiyough trendeth Northwest but the Riuer itselfe turneth North-east and is still a nauigable streame On the Westerne side of this bought is Tauxenent with fortie men On the North of this Riuer is Secowocomoco with fortie men Some what further Potapaco with twentie In the East part of the bought of the Riuer is Pamacacack with sixtie men After Moyowances with one hundred And lastly Nacotchtanke with eightie able men The Riuer tenne miles aboue this place maketh his passage downe a low pleasant Vally ouer-shadowed in many places with high Rockie Mountaines from whence distill innumerable sweet and pleasant Springs The fift Riuer is called Pawtuxunt and is of a lesse proportion then the rest but the channell is sixteene or eighteene fadome deepe in some places Here are infinite skuls of diuers kinds of fish more then elsewhere Vpon this Riuer dwell the people called Acquintanacksuak Pawtuxunt and Mattapaxient Two hundred men was the greatest strength that could be there perceiued But they inhabit together and not so dispersed as the rest These of all other were found the most ciuill to giue entertainment Thirtie leagues Northward is a Riuer not inhabited yet nauigable for the red Earth or Clay resembling Bole Armoniack the English called it Bolus At the end of the Bay where it is sixe or seuen miles in breadth there fall into it foure small Riuers three of them issuing from diuers bogges inuironed with high Mountaines There is one that commeth due North three or foure dayes iourney from the head of the Bay and fals from Rockes and Mountaines vpon this Riuer inhabit a people called Sasquesahanocke They are seated two dayes higher then was passage for the Discouerers Barge which was hardly two tunnes and had in it but twelue men to performe this Discouery wherein they lay aboue the space of twelue weekes vpon those great waters in those vnknowne Countries hauing nothing but a little Meale or Oat-meale and water to feed them and scarce halfe sufficient of that for halfe that time but that by the Sauages and by the plenty of fish they found in all places they made themselues prouision as opportunity serued yet had they not a Mariner or any that had skill to trimme their Sayles vse their Oares or any businesse belonging to the Barge but two or three The rest being Gentlemen or as ignorant in such toyle and labour yet necessitie in a short time by their Captaines diligence and example taught them to become so perfect that what they did by such small meanes I leaue to the censure of the Reader to iudge by this Discourse and the annexed Map But to proceed sixtie of those Sasquesahanocks came to the Discouerers with Skinnes Bowes Arrowes Targets Beades Swords and Tobacco-pipes for Presents Such great and well proportioned men are seldome seene for they seemed like Giants to the English yea and to the Neighbours yet seemed of an honest and simple disposition with much adoe restrained from adoring the Discouerers as Gods Those are the most strange people of all those Countries both in Language and Attire for their Language it may well beseeme their proportions founding from them as it were a great voyce in a Vault or Caue as an Eccho Their Attire is the Skinnes of Beares and Woolues some haue Cassacks made of Beares heads and Skinnes that a mans necke goes through the Skinnes necke and the Eares of the Beare fastned to his shoulders behind the Nose and Teeth hanging downe his breast and at the end of the Nose hung a Beares Pawe the halfe sleeues comming to the elbowes were the neckes of the Beares and the armes through the mouth with pawes hanging at their Noses One had the head of a Woolfe hanging in a Chaine for a Iewell his Tobacco-pipe three quarters of a yard long prettily carued with a Bird a Beare a Deere or some such deuice at the great end sufficient to beate out the braines of a man with Bowes and Arrowes and Clubs sutable to their greatnesse and conditions These are scarce knowne to Powhatan They can make neere sixe hundred able and mightie men and are pallisadoed in their Townes to defend them from the Massawomckes their mortall enemies Fiue of their chiefe Werowanccs came aboord the Discouerers and crossed the Bay in their Barge The Picture of the greatest of them is signified in the Mappe The calfe of whose legge was three quarters of a yard about and all the rest of his limbes so answerable to that proportion that hee seemed the goodliest man that euer wee beheld His haire the one side was long the other shorne close with a ridge ouer his crowne like a Cockes Combe His Arrowes were fiue quarters long headed with flints or spinters of stones in forme like a Heart an inch broad and an inch and a halfe or more long These hee wore in a Woolues Skinne at his backe for his Quiuer his Bow in the one hand and his Clubbe in the other as is described On the East side the Bay is the Riuer of Tockwhogh and vpon it a people that can make one hundred men seated some seuen miles within the Riuer where they haue a Fort very well
that there had bin a generall determination to haue shut vp hatches and commending our sinfull soules to God committed the Shippe to the mercy of the Sea surely that night we must haue done it and that night had we then perished but see the goodnesse and sweet introduction of better hope by our mercifull God giuen vnto vs. Sir George Summers when no man dreamed of such happinesse had discouered and cried Land Indeede the morning now three quarters spent had wonne a little cleerenesse from the dayes before and it being better surueyed the very trees were seene to moue with the winde vpon the shoare side whereupon our Gouernour commanded the Helme-man to beare vp the Boateswaine sounding at the first found it thirteene fathome when we stood a little in seuen fatham and presently heauing his lead the third time had ground at foure fathome and by this we had got her within a mile vnder the South-east point of the land where we had somewhat smooth water But hauing no hope to saue her by comming to an anker in the same we were inforced to runne her ashoare as neere the land as we could which brought vs within three quarters of a mile of shoare and by the mercy of God vnto vs making out our Boates we had ere night brought all our men women and children about the number of one hundred and fifty safe into the Iland We found it to be the dangerous and dreaded Iland or rather Ilands of the Bermuda whereof let mee giue your Ladyship a briefe description before I proceed to my narration And that the rather because they be so terrible to all that euer touched on them and such tempests thunders and other fearefull obiects are seene and heard about them that they be called commonly The Deuils Ilands and are feared and auoyded of all sea trauellers aliue aboue any other place in the world Yet it pleased our mercifull God to make euen this hideous and hated place both the place of our safetie and meanes of our deliuerance And hereby also I hope to deliuer the world from a foule and generall errour it being counted of most that they can be no habitation for Men but rather giuen ouer to Deuils and wicked Spirits whereas indeed wee find them now by experience to bee as habitable and commodious as most Countries of the same climate and situation insomuch as if the entrance into them were as easie as the place it selfe is contenting it had long ere this beene inhabited as well as other Ilands Thus shall we make it appeare That Truth is the daughter of Time and that men ought not to deny euery thing which is not subiect to their owne sense The Bermudas bee broken Ilands fiue hundred of them in manner of an Archipelagus at least if you may call them all Ilands that lie how little soeuer into the Sea and by themselues of small compasse some larger yet then other as time and the Sea hath wonne from them and eaten his passage through and all now lying in the figure of a Croissant within the circuit of sixe or seuen leagues at the most albeit at first it is said of them that they were thirteene or fourteene leagues and more in longitude as I haue heard For no greater distance is it from the Northwest Point to Gates his Bay as by this Map your Ladyship may see in which Sir George Summers who coasted in his Boat about them all tooke great care to expresse the same exactly and full and made his draught perfect for all good occasions and the benefit of such who either in distresse might be brought vpon them or make saile this way It should seeme by the testimony of Gonzalus Ferdinandus Ouiedus in his Booke intituled The Summary or Abridgement of his generall History of the West Indies written to the Emperor Charles the Fift that they haue beene indeed of greater compasse and I easily beleeue it then they are now who thus saith In the yeere 1515. when I came first to informe your Maiesty of the state of the things in India and was the yeere following in Flanders in the time of your most fortunate successe in these your kingdomes of Aragony and Casteel whereas at that voyage I sayled aboue the Iland Bermudas otherwise called Gorza being the farthest of all the Ilands that are yet found at this day in the world and arriuing there at the depth of eight yards of water and distant from the Land as farre as the shot of a Peece of Ordnance I determined to send some of the ship to Land as well to make search of such things as were there as also to leaue in the Iland certaine Hogges for increase but the time not seruing my purpose by reason of contrary winde I could bring my Ships no neerer the Iland being twelue leagues in length and sixteene in breadth and about thirtie in circuit lying in the thirtie three degrees of the North side Thus farre hee True it is the maine Iland or greatest of them now may bee some sixteene miles in length East North-east and West South-west the longest part of it standing in thirtie two degrees and twentie minutes in which is a great Bay on the North side in the North-west end and many broken Ilands in that Sound or Bay and a little round Iland at the south-South-west end As occasions were offered so we gaue titles and names to certaine places These Ilands are often afflicted and rent with tempests great strokes of thunder lightning and raine in the extreamity of violence which and it may well bee hath so sundred and torne downe the Rockes and whurried whole quarters of Ilands into the maine Sea some sixe some seuen leagues and is like in time to swallow them all so as euen in that distance from the shoare there is no small danger of them and with them of the stormes continually raging from them which once in the full and change commonly of euery Moone Winter or Summer keepe their vnchangeable round and rather thunder then blow from euery corner about them sometimes fortie eight houres together especially if the circle which the Philosophers call Halo were in our being there seene about the Moone at any season which bow indeed appeared there often and would bee of a mightie compasse and breadth I haue not obserued it any where one quarter so great especially about the twentieth of March I saw the greatest when followed vpon the eues eue of the Annuntiation of our Ladie the mightiest blast of lightning and most terrible rap of thunder that euer astonied mortall men I thinke In August September and vntill the end of October wee had very hot and pleasant weather onely as I say thunder lightning and many scattering showers of Raine which would passe swiftly ouer and yet fall with such force and darknesse for the time as if it would neuer bee cleere againe wee wanted not any and of raine more in
Beades about his neck at it behind his neck hangs a little bag of Tobacco which he drank and gaue vs to drinke his face was painted with a sad Red like Murry and oyled both head and face that hee looked greasily All his followers likewise were in their faces in part or in whole painted some Blacke some Red some Yellow and some White some with Crosses and other Antick workes some had Skins on them and some naked all strong tall men in appearance The King had his bosome hanging in a string a great long Knife he maruelled much at our Trumpet and some of his men would sound it as well as they could Samoset and Squanto stayed all night with vs and the King and all his men lay all night in the Wood not aboue halfe an English mile from vs and all their wiues and women with them they said that within eight or nine daies they would come and set Corne on the other side of the Brooke and dwell there all Summer which is hard by vs. That night wee kept good watch but there was no appearance of danger the next morning diuers of our people came ouer to vs hoping to get some victualls as wee imagined some of them told vs the King would haue some of vs come see him Captaine Standish and Isaac Alderton went venterously who were welcommed of him after their manner he gaue them three or foure ground Nuts and some Tobacco Wee cannot yet conceiue but that hee is willing to haue peace with vs for they haue seene our people sometimes alone two or three in the Woods at worke and Fowling when as they offered them no harme as they might easily haue done and especially because hee hath a potent Aduersarie the Narowhiganseis that are at warre with him against whom hee thinkes wee may bee some strength to him for our Peeces are terrible vnto them This morning they staâ—ed till ten or eleuen of the clocke and our Gouernour bid them send the Kings Kettle and filled it full of Pease which pleased them well and so they went their way Friday was a very faire day Samoset and Squanto stil remained with vs Squanto went at noon to fish for Eeles at night he came home with as many as hee could well lift in one hand which our people were glad of they were fat and sweete hee trod them out with his feete and so caught them with his hands without any other Instrument This day we proceeded on with our common businesse from which we had bin so often hindred by the Sauages comming and concluded both of Militarie Orders and of some Lawes and Orders as we thought behoouefull for our present estate and condition and likewise chuse our Gouernour for this yeere which was Master Iohn Carver a man well approued amongst vs. IT seemed good to the Company for many considerations to send some amongst them to Massasoyt the greatest Commander amongst the Sauages bordering about vs partly to know where to find them if occasion serued as also to see their strength discouer the Countrey preuent abuses in their disorderly comming vnto vs make satisfaction for some conceiued iniuries to be done on our parts and to continue the league of Peace and Friendship betweene them and vs. For these and the like ends it pleased the Gouernour to make choice of Steven Hopkins and Edward Winsloe to goe vnto him and hauing a fit opportunitie by reason of a Sauage called Tisquantum that could speake English comming vnto vs with all expedition prouided a Horsemans Coat of Red Cotton and laced with a slight Lace for a Present that both they and their message might bee the more acceptable amongs them Wee set forward the tenth of Iune about nine a clock in the morning our guide resoluing that night to rest at Namaschet a Towne vnder Massasoyt and conceiued by vs to be very neere because the Inhabitants flocked so thicke vpon euery slight occasion amongst vs but wee found it to bee some fifteene English miles On the way wee found some ten or twelue men women and children which had pestered vs till wee were wearie of them perceiuing that as the manner of them all is where victuall is easiliest to be got there they liue especially in the Summer by reason whereof our Bay affording many Lobsters they resort euery Spring Tide thither and now returned with vs to Namaschet Thither we came about three a clocke after noone the Inhabitants entertaining vs with ioy in the best manner they could giuing vs a kind of bread called by them Maizium and the spawne of Shads which then they got in abundance in so much as they gaue vs spoones to eate them with these they boyled mustie Acornes but of the Shads wee eate heartily After this they desired one of our men to shoot at a Crow complaining what damage they sustained in their Corne by them who shooting some fourescore off and killing they much admired it as other shots on other occasions After this Tisquantum told vs wee should hardly in one day reach Pakanokick mouing vs to go some eight miles further where we should find more store and better victuals then there Being willing to hasten our iourney we went and came thither at Sunne setting where we found many of the Namascheucks they so calling the men of Namaschet fishing vpon a Waâ—e which they had made on a Riuer which belonged to them where they caught abundance of Basse. These welcommed vs also gaue vs of their fish and we them of our victualls not doubting but we should haue enough where ere we came There we lodged in the open fields for houses they had none though they spent the most of the Summer there The head of this Riuer is reported to bee not farre from the place of our abode vpon it are and haue beene many Townes it being a good length The ground is very good on both sides it being for the most part cleered Thousands of men haue liued there which died in a great plague not long since and pittie it was and is to see so many goodly fields and so well seated without men to dresse and manure the same Vpon this Riuer dwelleth Massasoyt The next morning wee brake our fast tooke our leaue and departed being then accompanied with some sixe Sauages hauing gone about sixe miles by the Riuer side at a knowne shoale place it being low water they spake to vs to put off our breeches for wee must wade thorow Here let me not forget the valour and courage of some of the Sauages on the opposite side of the Riuer for there were remaining aliue onely two men both aged especially the one being aboue threescore These two espying a company of men entring the Riuer ran very swiftly and low in the grasse to meet vs at the Banke where with shrill voyces and great courage standing charged vpon vs with their Bowes they demanded what wee were supposing vs to
between Sagadahoc and it From the Iland vpward the water is fresh abounding in Salmons and other fresh-water fish Some thirteene or fourteen daies iourney from the entrance in the North-east branch there is a little arme of a Riuer that runneth East some daies iourney which hath at the entrance foure fathoms water Vpon this arme there is one ouer fail which standeth halfe a daies iourney aboue this braneh vpon this arme there are foure Townes The first is called Kenebeke which hath eightie houses and one hundred men The Lord whereof is Apombamen The second is Ketangheanycke and the Sagamos name is Octoworthe who hath in his Towne ninetie housholds and three hundred and thirtie men This Towne is foure dayes iourney from Kenebeke and eight dayes iourney from To the Northward is the third Towne which they call Naragooc where there are fiftie housholds and one hundred and fiftie men The chiefe Sagamo of that place is Cocockohamas And on the small branch that runneth East standeth the fourth Towne named by Mâ—ssakiga where there are but eight housholds and fortie men Vpon the Northwest branch of this Sound stand two Townes more The first is called Amereangan and is distant from Kenebeke sixe dayes iourney In this place are ninetie housholdes and two hundred and sixtie men with two Sagamoes the one called Sasuâ—a the other Scawas Seuen daies iourney hence there is another Sagamo whose name is Octoworâ—kin and his Townes name Namercante wherein are fortie housholds and one hundred and twentie men A dayes iourney aboue Namercante there is a downefall where they cannot passe with their Cannoes but are inforced to carrie them by Land for the space of a quarter of a mile and then they put them into the Riuer againe And twelue dayes iourney aboue this Downfall there is another where they carrie their Boates as at the first and sixe dayes iourney more to the North is the head of this Riuer where is the Lake that is of eight dayes iourney long and foure dayes broad before mentioned In this Lake there is one Iland and three dayes iourney from this Lake there is a Towne which is called Buccawganecants wherein are threescore housholds and foure hundred men And the Sagamo thereof is called Baccatusshe This man and his people are subiects to the Bashabez of Mawooshen and in his Countrey is the farthest limit of his Dominion where he hath any that doe him homage To the Westward of Sagadahoc foure dayes iourney there is another Riuer called Ashamabaga which hath at the entrance sixe fathoms water and is halfe a quarter of a mile broad it runneth into the Land two dayes iourney and on the East side there is one Towne called Agnagebcoc wherein are seuentie houses and two hundred and fortie men with two Sagames the one called Maurmet the other Casherokenit Seuen dayes iourney to the South-west of Ashamabaga there is another Riuer that is sixe fathoms to the entrance This Riuer is named Shawakotoc and is halfe a myle broad it runneth into the Land fiftie dayes iourney but foure dayes from the entrance it is so narrow that the Trees growing on each side doe so crosse with their boughes and bodies on the other as it permitteth not any meanes to passe with Boates that way for which cause the Inhabitants that on any occasion are to trauell to the head are forced to goe by Land taking their way vpon the West side At the end of this Riuer there is a Lake of foure dayes iourney long and two dayes broad wherein are two Ilands To the north-North-West foure daies iourney from this Lake at the head of this Riuer Shawakatoc there is a small Prouince which they call Crokemago wherein is one Towne This is the Westermost Riuer of the Dominions of Bashabez and Quibiquisson the Westermost To the Reader I Haue thought good to adde to the English Plantations in New England those in the neighbour Countrey of New-found-land This was first discouered Ann. 1497. by S. Sebastian Cabot set forth by King Henry the seuenth the Voyages followed of M. Rut Albert de Prato M. Hore and others Ann. 1583. actuall and formall possession was taken in the right of Queene Elizabeth of glorious memory and her Successours by that memorable Knight Sir Humfrey Gilbert see sup lib. 4. ca. 13. And in the yeere 1609. M. Iohn Guy of Bristoll did write a Treatise to animate the English to plant there a written Copy whereof I haue A. 1610. It pleased his most excellent Maiestie to grant a Patent for a Plantation part whereof the whole might seeme too long for our purpose we haue inserted CHAP. VII The beginning of the Patent for New-found-land and the Plantation there made by the English 1610. deliuered in a Letter dated thence from M. GVY to M. SLANY Also of the weather the three first Winters and of Captaine WESTON with other remarkable Occurrents IAMES by the Grace of GOD of Great Brittaine France and Ireland King Defendour of the Faith c. To all people to whom these Presents shall come greeting Know yee whereas diuers Our louing and well disposed Subiects are desirous to make Plantation to inhabite and to establish a Colony or Colonies in the Southerne and Easterne parts of the Countrey and I le or Ilands commonly called New-found-land vnto the Coast and Harbour whereof the Subiects of this our Realme of England haue for the space of fiftie yeeres and vpwards yeerely vsed to resort in no small numbers to fish intending by such Plantation and inhabiting both to secure and make safe the said Trade of Fishing to Our Subiects for euer And also to make some commendable benefit for the vse of mankind by the lands and profits thereof which hitherto from the beginning as it seemeth manifest hath remained vnprofitable And for better performance of such their purpose and intentions haue humbly besought Our Regall Authoritie and assistance Wee being well assured that the same Land or Countrey adioyning to the foresaid Coasts where Our Subiects vse to fish remaineth so destitute and desolate of inhabitance that scarce any one Sauage person hath in many yeeres beene seene in the most parts thereof And well knowing that the same lying and being so vacant is as well for the reasons aforesaid as for many other reasons very commodious for Vt and Our Dominions And that by the Law of Nature and Nations We may of Our Royall Authoritie possesse our selues and make graunt thereof without doing wrong to any other Prince or State considering they cannot iustly pretend any Soueraigntie or Right thereunto in respect that the same remaineth so vacant and not actually possessed and inhabited by any Christian or other whomsoeuer And therefore thinking it a matter and action well beseeming a Christian King to make true vse of that which God from the beginning created for mankind And therefore intending not onely to worke and procure the benefit and good of many of Our Subiects
raw and so to be set in the Sunne to be tortuâ—ed to death by Muskitos Golden hopes Sir W. Ral. Topiawary dead Tiuitiuas houses on trees tops Men with shoulders higher then thâ—iâ— heads Crystill Rock Images of gold Monooan great Citie in Guiana Houses with lofts Branches of Dissikeebee Branches of Selinama Swift footmen Distant from England 1600. leagues This is a part of a Booke â—et forth by the said Dauies of his mâ—serable captiuitie * I finde at the end of the Booke some meâ—â—cinall receipts and the name subscribed Ir. Maâ—â—el 〈…〉 staon E 〈…〉 eâ—ro do Colagiâ— da 〈◊〉 whom Iâ—magine to haue beene Author of this Treatise Cooke reported that he had it of a Friar but the name Iesus diuers times on the top of the page and often mention of the Fathers and socâ—etie maketh me thinke him a brother of that order besides the state-tractate following Their opinion of a floud Of the knowledg that they haue or the Creator and of the Soule Paradise Diuels Diuels feare Caraibas iugling No proper name of God Of the Mariages They giue no dowries to their daughters or to the sous but they serue their mother in law Tailes Drinkings Of the manner thâ—y keepe in their eating and drinking Liberality and opinion of niggardiâ—e Their diet Drinking Feasts Daunces Rudenesse Of the manner that they haue in their sleeping * One House containeth many Families Nakednesse Modesty Painting Galantry Neatnesse Mourning Apparell Of their Houses Childebirth Loue and eâ—â—cation of children Friers and Iesuires paines with Indians children Of the custom they haue in harboring or entertayning their guests Of the custom they haue of drinking of smoake Of the manner of payments and husbandrie Of their Iewels and Brooches Filthily fine Of the vsage of their wiues and how they man them Iealousie Of their dances and their songs Instruments Womens dances Of their burials Lamentations to be lamented Of the Instruments they do vse Of the weapons they doe vse Cruel arrowes Cunning Archers Their Arts. Quick sighted Great Trauellers and swift Swords Gentle cruell keeper Festiuall preparation and solemnitie Black Saints First encounters The womens parts Their songs c. Adorning of the Captiue The fatall Sword Crocodiles teares Hallowing the Sword Butchery rites Block-head Cerrmonies of making a new Gentleman Markes and habit of new Gentrie Titles of Honour See before in in M. Kniuet Portugals vse of Sauages Pitiguaras viâ—tâ—n a people eaten out by the Portugals Tupinaba Caâ—ete Tupinaquin Timimins Tamuya Araraâ—e Vnchristian impietie of some Portugals Scuentie six Nations of Tapuya See of these Master Kniuet which liued with them * A roote so called Cowards and cruell Tucanucu and other Nations many Caue-houses Anheâ—im c. Great Paps Cumpehe Sauages not Canibals Guaitaca Beast in humane shape Of the Climate Countrie of Brasill of some notable things found there as well one the Land as one the Sea The wilde Boare 3. kinds and more Acuti Pacaâ— Iagoarete M. Kniuet callâ— them Tigres Bold vain-glorious Indians Carigue An t Beare or Tamandua a strange-shaped beast Tatu or Armadillo The Badas are the Rhinocerots Canduacu or Porcupine diuers kinds Hiraras or Ciuet Cats Aquiqui Apes or Monkies Ape-king His Oration His Page Many kindes of Monkies Their Physike Monkie-tricks Cuati Other kinds Wilde Cats Iagoarucu Tapati Iaguacini Biarataca Stinking beast Priguica or Lazinesse Simple food Twelue kinds of Rats Of the Snakes that are on the land and haue no poison Gibâ—ya Egge-eater Caninana Long-snout Gaitiopiâ— Boyuna Snakes that haue poison Iarâ—racâ— Curucucu Boycininga Ibiracua Ibiboboca Store and sore Carima a drug so called Musk-snake Scorpions Poisonous Region Parots Varietie of Parots The Arara Anapuru Araruna Aiurucurâ— Tuin Guiraiubâ— Yapu Dangerous to the eyes The Guaimimbique others call it the Tomineios Generation Note for Philosophers Guiranhe eng eta Tangara Dance Quereina Tucana Guirapanga Macucagua Mutu Hard egges Dogs poison Vâ—u Turtles innumerable Ostriches Anima Horne medicinable Acaiu a kinde of Chesnut Many vses thereof Mangaba Or Musk-rose Murucuge Ill gathering Araca Ombu Fruit causing teeth to fall Iacapucaya Haire-fal-fruit Graes Araticu Pequea Iabaticaba Cocos 20. kinds of Palmes The Pine tree Of the Trees thâ—◠〈…〉 rue for m 〈…〉 ines Cabueriba Port Eâ—gaddi A medicine for wounds Cupayba For wounds Ambayba For wounds Ambaigtinga For the Collicke Igbacamuci For the bloudy Fluxe Igcigca Foâ— cold diseases Gumme Anime Curupicaiba For wounds and for the Poxe Caaroba For the Poxe Caarobmocorandiba For loosenesse and the Poxe Iaburandiba For the sicknesse of the Liuer For the Tooth-ake Cassia fistulae Of the Oyles the Indians doe vse to an 〈…〉 themselues withall Moxerequigba Aiuruatubira Aiabutipita Ianipaba For the Laske Iequitimguacu Beades and Sope. Of the tree that hath water Note Compare this with those mentioned by A. Batle in Congo Of the Trees that serue for timber Cedars and Nutmegs Mandioca The iuyce is poison Other kindes Nana Pacoba Adams Tree Murucuia Many other Brasilian plants Ietigcucu A purge For the bloudy Fluxe A remedie for poyson Tyroqui or Tareroqui For the bloudy Fluxe * Perhaps the worme in the fundament mentioned by Sir R. Haukins Embeguacu For the Fluxe of bloud Caa obetinga For wounds Cobaura For wounds The Holy herbe or Tobacco For sundry diseases For the worme Camaracatimbae For scabs and the Poxe Aipo Meade-Mallow Caraguata It causeth to abort Timbo Baite for fishes Sleeping herb An hâ—râ—e so called â—rua viâ—a See M. Harcourt his Guiana Relations Brasilian herbs smell not Of the Canes Oxe-fish Maâ—ati * Or Greace or Oile so after Maâ—tega in the Portugall word Beijupira The Oxe eie d Or foure shillings a piece e Or Greace Camurupi f Or Butter The wild fish The Whale Ambergrise The Sword fish Battle with Whaies A Tortoise Tuborones or Sharkes Pelgrimes The flying fish Soles and Salmonets A little red fish very daintie in Spaine Of the venemous fishes Toad fish deadly Puraque or Torpedo See Iobson Caramuru Amoreatie k A fish so called Ierepomonga Strange Sea Snake Mermen or Monsters of the Sea Of the Shel-fishes Cuttle fishes Apula Sea-fomes Sea Crabs Vza Guainumu Aratu Ten or twelue kinds of crabs Oysters Note for lime Muscles Perewinkles Wilkes Pirâ—guaig White Corral Prawnes Of the Trees that gâ—ow in salt-water Mangues Gnats Guiratinga Caripira Note Guaca Guirateontâ—on Calâ—amar or Sea-stamper Ayaya C 〈…〉 Gâ—â—â—â— Of the fresh Riuers and the things that in them are Cururijuba a great Snake many wayes wonderfull Manima Water Lizards Iacare or Crocodile Hard Egges Iaguarucu A great Dogge This seemeth some kind of the Hippopetamas Atacape Iaguapopebâ— Baeapina Water-hogge Guararici Men dye with hearing it Horses Kine Swine Sheepe Goates Hennes Turkies Geese and Duckes Dogges * For one kind are called Limas as it werâ— the Female Trees Fig-trees Quinces Vines Roses Plants and Herbes Wheate i That is â—oure bâ—â—â—l and an haâ—e k Nâ—â—e that the Alqueâ—que contâ—iâ—eth 18. bushâ—ls Sâ—elling heâ—bâ—s l
torment and paine which is such that he who hath beene throughly punished with the Collique can quickly decipher or demonstrate The Antidote for this pernicious worme is Garlique and this was discouered by a Phisitian to a Religious person §. III. THARLTONS treacherie Discouerie of Land vnknowne Entrance of the Straits accidents therein and description thereof diuers occasionall discourses for the furtherance of Marine and Naturall knowledge IN our Nauigation towards the Straits by our obseruation we found that our Compasse varied a point and better to the Eastwards In the height of the Riuer of Plate we being some fiftie leagues off the coast a storme tooke vs Southerly which endured fortie eight houres In the first day about the going downe of the Sunne Robert Tharlton Master of the Francie bare vp before the winde without giuing vs any token or signe that she was in distresse We seeing her to continue her course bare vp after her and the night comming on we carried our light but she neuer answered vs for they kept their course directly for England which was the ouerthrow of the Voyage as well for that we had no Pinnace to goe before vs to discouer any danger to seeke out roades and anchoring to helpe our watering and refreshing as also for the victuals necessaries and men which they carried away with them which though they were not many yet with their helpe in our fight we had taken the Vice-admirall the first time shee bourded with vs as shall be hereafter manifested For once we cleered her Decke and had wee beene able to haue spared but a dozen men doubtlesse we had done with her what we would for she had no close fights Moreouer if she had beene with me I had not beene discouered vpon the coast of Peâ—ew But I was worthy to be deceiued that trusted my Ship in the hands of on hypocrite and a man which had left his Generall before in the like occasion and in the selfe same place for being with Master Thomas Candish Master of a small Shippe in the Voyage wherein hee died this Captaine being aboord the Admirall in the night time forsocke his Fleete his Generall and Captaine and returned home Pitie it is that such perfidious persons are not more seuerely punished These absentings and escapes are made most times onely to pâ—lâ—er and steale as well by taking of some prize when they are alone and without command to hinder or order their bad proceedings as to appropriate that which is in their intrusted shippe casting the fault if they bee called to account vpon some poore and vnknowne MarineÌ„rs whom they suffer with a little pillage to absent themselues the cunninglier to colour their greatest disorders and Robberies The storme ceasing and being out of all hope wee set saile and went on our course During this storme certaine great Fowles as bigge as Swannes soared about vs and the winde calming setled themselues in the Sea and fed vpon the sweepings of our ship which I perceiuing and desirous to see of them because they seemed farre greater then in truth they were I caused a Hook and Line to be brought me and with a piece of a Pilehard I baâ—ted the Hooke and a foot from it tied a piece of Corke that it might not sinke deepe and threw it into the Sâ—a which our ship driuing with the Sea in a little time was a good space from vs and one of the Fowles beeing hungry presently seized vpon it and the Hooke in his vpper beake It is like to a Faulcons bill but that the point is moore crooked in that manner as by no meanes hee could cleere himselfe except that the Line brake or the Hooke righted Plucking him towards the ship with the wauing of his wings he eased the weight of his body and being brought to the sterne of our ship two of our company went downe by the ladder of the Poope and seized on his neck and wings but such were the blowes he gaue them with his Pinnions as both left their hand fast beeing beaten blacke and blue we cast a snare about his necke and so triced him into the ship By the same manner of fishing we caught so many of them as refreshed and recreated all my people for that day Their bodies were great but of little flesh and tender in taste answerable to the food whereon they feed They were of two colours some white some grey they had three ioynts in each wing and from the point of one wing to the point of the other both stretched out was aboue two fathomes The wind continued good with vs till we came to 49. degrees and 30. minutes where it took vs Westerly being as we made our account some fifty leagues from the shoare Betwixâ— 49. and 48. degrees is Port Saint Iulian a good Harbour and in which a man may graue his shippe though she draw fifteene or sixteene foot water But care is to bee had of the people called Patagones They are treacherous and of great stature most giue them the name of Gâ—ants The second of February about nine of the clocke in the morning wee descried land which bare South-west of vs which we looked not for so timely and comming neerer and neerer vnto it by the lying wee could not coniecture what Land it should be for wee were next of any thing in 48. degrees and no Plat nor Sea-card which we had made mention of any Land which lay in that manner neere about that height In fine wee brought our Lar-boord tacke aboord and stood to the North-east-wards all that day and night and the winde continuing Westerly and a faire gale we continued our course alongst the Coast the day and night following In which time we made account we discouered well neere threescore leagues off the Coast. It is bold and made small shew of dangers The land is a goodly Champion Countrey and peopled wee saw many fires but could not come to speake with the people for the time of the yeere was farre spent to shoote the Straits and the want of our Pinnasse disabled vs for finding a Port or Road not being discretion with a ship of charge and in an vnknowne Coast to come neere the shoare before it was founded which were causes together with the change of the winde good for vs to passe the Strait that hindered the further Discouery of this Land with its secrets This I haue sorrowed for many times since for that it had likelihood to bee an excellent Countrey It hath great Riuers of fresh waters for the out-shoot of them colours the Sea in many places as we ranne alongst it It is not Moâ—ntaynous but much of the disposition of England and as temperate The things we noted principally on the Coast are these following the Westermost point of the Land with which wee first fell is the end of the Land to the Westwards as wee found afterwards If a man bring this